How Abu Dhabi GP Decides F1 Championship

The Formula 1 World Championship will be decided at the season finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend. While Max Verstappen is the clear leader, mathematical possibilities remain for Red Bull’s reigning champion and his two McLaren rivals, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, to claim the title.

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Max Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Championship with 285 points. He can secure his fourth consecutive title by scoring at least 21 points in Abu Dhabi. This would require a finish of sixth place or higher, even without setting the fastest lap.

Lando Norris is in second place with 245 points, 40 points behind Verstappen. For Norris to win the championship, he must score at least 20 more points than Verstappen in the final race. This scenario requires Verstappen to score very few or no points.

Oscar Piastri is third with 206 points, 79 points behind the leader. Piastri’s path to the title requires him to score a minimum of 28 points while Verstappen scores no points at all in Abu Dhabi.

The maximum points available from a single Grand Prix are 26, awarded for a win plus the fastest lap. Without the fastest lap, a race win yields 25 points.

Summary

Max Verstappen enters the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a significant 40-point advantage over his closest competitor, Lando Norris. Verstappen needs only a modest points finish to mathematically guarantee his fourth world title.

Lando Norris’s championship hopes depend entirely on an exceptional result combined with a very poor finish for Verstappen. He must outperform the Red Bull driver by at least 20 points in the final race.

Oscar Piastri faces the most challenging scenario, needing to score maximum points and hope Verstappen fails to score. The 79-point gap makes his title chance highly remote.

The final outcome will be determined by the race results at the Yas Marina Circuit, where all points will be allocated for the last time this season.

FAQs

**How can Max Verstappen win the championship in Abu Dhabi?**
Max Verstappen will win the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship if he scores 21 or more points. This can be achieved by finishing sixth or higher in the race.

What does Lando Norris need to become champion?
Lando Norris must score at least 20 more points than Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi. This requires Norris to finish very high, likely on the podium, while Verstappen finishes outside the points-scoring positions.

Can Oscar Piastri still win the title?
Mathematically, yes. Oscar Piastri must win the race with the fastest lap (26 points) and Verstappen must score zero points. This would give Piastri a one-point championship victory.