Motorsport photoRonald VordingSun, November 30, 2025 at 11:13 AM UTC·7 min readIn Qatar, Lando Norris has his first-ever match point to clinch a Formula 1 world title. If the Briton scores four points more than Oscar Piastri and one point more than Max Verstappen on Sunday, the title fight will already be decided before the season finale.
However, ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, Verstappen stated that he would have wrapped up the championship much earlier had he been in the McLaren car. With that comment, the Dutchman suggested that the MCL39 has been significantly stronger over the course of the season than the Red Bull car, and that he would have made good use of it.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDuring Saturday’s press conference at the Losail International Circuit, Norris dismissed that claim as nonsense.
“Max can say whatever he wants to be honest. He’s kind of earned the right, he’s won four world championships, I’ve a lot of respect and I think that that gives anyone a lot of credit,” Norris said.
“Max generally has a good clue about a lot of things, but there’s also a lot of things he doesn’t have much of a clue about. This is Red Bull’s way of going about things – this aggressive nature, just talking nonsense a lot of the time.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen are still in the title fight
Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen are still in the title fightWhen Verstappen was asked during his Dutch media round in the paddock whether he was talking nonsense, the Red Bull driver laughed: “No, I just put all facts on the table.”
It may be part of the usual mind games in an F1 title battle, although Verstappen added on a more serious note that a first title fight inevitably brings extra pressure.
“I know that from my own experience as well,” he said. “When you’re fighting for your first world title, you naturally feel a bit more pressure than in the years after that.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLess to lose than the McLaren drivers
That pressure on Norris may be visible to some extent during the Qatar race weekend, although it must be said that his lead should still be comfortable.
“It’s a bit trickier for Lando this weekend,” Verstappen replied. “Oscar feels good again, I think, and you could also see that in Q3. Lando still has a decent lead, also on Oscar, so it’s all a bit hard to predict.”
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This is how Lando Norris can win his first F1 title in Qatar
The difference in pressure also applies to Sunday’s race in Qatar. Zak Brown predicted that Verstappen will go all-in at Turn 1, precisely because he has far less to lose than the McLaren pairing.
“Yes, especially compared to Lando,” Verstappen agrees. “I think he knows that as well. But on the other hand, I’m not too worried about it. I’ll just try to do my best. If there’s an opportunity, then of course I’ll go for it. But at the same time, you don’t want to do anything crazy either, because that won’t help you anyway.”
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenMark Thompson / Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingAndrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPierre Gasly, Alpine, Kika Cerqueira Gomes
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Kika Cerqueira GomesAndrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images
Metallica band member Robert Trujillo
Metallica band member Robert TrujilloJayce Illman / Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, AlpineSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
George Russell, Mercedes, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenJayce Illman / Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
Carlos Sainz Sr, Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, James Vowles, Williams
Carlos Sainz Sr, Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, James Vowles, WilliamsPeter Fox / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJames Hetfield of Metallica
James Hetfield of MetallicaRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 TeamMark Thompson / Getty Images
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Toto Wolff, MercedesGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, MercedesDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenKarim Jaafar - AFP - Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenClive Mason / Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls TeamZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariAndrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCharles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariClive Mason / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenNoushad Thekkayil / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingKarim Jaafar - AFP - Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, MercedesKym Illman / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLarenZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCharles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariAhmad AlShehab / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, AlpineKym Illman / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Lando Norris, McLaren, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariNoushad Thekkayil / NurPhoto via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLarenSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariJames Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenJames Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenMario Renzi - Formula 1 - Getty Images
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