The Drivers’ Championship battle has been thrown wide open as Formula 1 heads to the Middle East for the penultimate round of the season and the Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit. What once looked like a straightforward run to glory for Lando Norris has turned into a high-pressure showdown as Max Verstappen mounts a late surge.
We’ll take a closer look at the key storylines, betting angles, and suggested picks ahead of this crucial weekend.
PREVIOUS RACE – Last Vegas GP
Last weekend’s race was a stock and standard one until a late decision by the FIA after the race. Max Verstappen did all he could and finished first to gain maximum points while Lando Norris finished in second to keep his big lead at the top. Piastri finished in fourth, also securing vital points however, after the race both McLarens were disqualified due to technical issues with their cars and so both drivers scored no points. The also meant that Geroge Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished on the podium.
CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE
Lando Norris 390 points
Oscar Piastri 366 points
Max Verstappen 366 points
Lando Norris would have been 42 points clear heading into this weekend if it were not for his disqualification, however, he is now only 24 points clear. The bookies still have him as favourite to win, trading at 1.28. Verstappen could have not asked for a better result last weekend as he is now only 24 points behind Norris. He still has a massive task ahead of him but is trading at 3.70 for the win. Oscar Piastri is tied with Verstappen on 366 points but due to his current form, it would take a miracle for him to win the Championship and so he is trading at 17.00.
Click here for Drivers Championship Betting
Track Guide – Lusail International Circuit
The Lusail International Circuit, located north of Doha, is one of the most technically demanding venues on the modern F1 calendar. Originally built for MotoGP, it joined the F1 schedule in 2021 and now returns as a permanent night race.
Track Facts
- Location: Lusail, Qatar
- Circuit length: 5.418 km
- Race distance: 57 laps (308.6 km)
- Direction: Clockwise
- Corners: 16 (10 right, 6 left)
- Top speed: ~340 km/h on the main straight
- Race start time: Night race under floodlights
Layout & Challenges
- High-speed flow: Lusail features long, sweeping corners with very few slow sections, rewarding cars with strong aerodynamic balance and high downforce.
- Tyre degradation: The abrasive desert surface and relentless cornering load make it one of the harshest circuits on tyres. Pirelli often opts for harder compounds, and two or even three pit stops can be expected.
- Track temperature swings: Although run at night, track temps remain high, around 35°C early in the weekend, dropping toward 25°C during the race.
- Wind and sand: Desert gusts can coat the circuit with fine sand, drastically reducing grip and affecting braking distances.
- Overtaking: The kilometre-long pit straight and strong DRS zone into Turn 1 provide the main passing opportunity.
In short, Lusail is a driver’s circuit, physically demanding, high-speed, and punishing on mistakes.
Qatar GP 2024
Last year’s race saw Verstappen have an impressive drive as he came home to win the race ahead of Leclerc in second and Piastri in third. Lando Norris endured a frustrating weekend, managing only tenth.
BETTING (To win outright Qatar GP 2025) – Click here to bet
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 2.20
Lando Norris (Mclaren) 2.70
Oscar Piastri (Mclaren) 7.00
George Russell (Mercedes) 13.00
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 15.00
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 21.00
All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
VERDICT
After the final result of last week, for the first time this season, it genuinely looks like Verstappen can win the Drivers’ Championship for a fifth time in a row. He knows that he will need nothing worse than a win this weekend and being the Driver of his calibre, I definitely think he can win the race.
Suggested Bet: Max Verstappen to win at 2.20.
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To make things more interesting, there is also a sprint race this weekend. Both Verstappen and Norris have won two sprint races each with Norris winning the most recent one in Brazil. McLaren were also able to finish in first and second place in last year’s sprint race in Qatar even with their poor performance in the main race. If they are able to set their cars up correctly again like they did last year, I think Norris stands a very good chance of winning this week’s sprint race.
Suggested Bet: Lando Norris to win the sprint race at 2.70.
