Qatar Grand Prix – Can Lando Norris come back from his Las Vegas disqualification?

As the penultimate race of the 2025 Formula One season approaches, the eyes of the world are switching focus from Las Vegas to Doha, in readiness for the Qatar Grand Prix. While Lando Norris drove well in Nevada, his second-place finish was futile as he faced disqualification, which allowed Max Vestappen to narrow the distance between them in the Drivers’ Championship. Let’s take a look at some more details before we make our Qatar Grand Prix prediction.

Qatar is a relative newcomer to the Formula One circuit, having been introduced to the roster in 2021 after Australia bowed out due to Covid. This will be the fourth time Qatar has hosted a Grand Prix. Over the course of the race weekend, there will be a limit or 25 laps for each set of tyres, meaning that each driver will need to make at least two pit stops for tyre changes of the course of the 57-lap race.

While Lando Norris had a promising lead going into the Las Vegas Grand Prix, he and his teammate Oscar Piastri found themselves disqualified after it was found that the skid blocks of both McLaren cars had less than the minimum required depth. This means that going into this weekend in Doha, Norris is still just 24 points ahead of both his teammate Piastri and last year’s Drivers’ Champion, Max Verstappen, who will be doing his utmost to add a fifth consecutive Championship title to his driving record. While it is unlikely that he will be able to bridge that 24-point lead in just two races, anything can happen in the world of Formula One.

Who are the Qatar Grand Prix drivers to watch out for?

With just two races left, who are the main contenders to watch out for at the Qatar Grand Prix?

Lando Norris – Looking to make up for his disqualification in Las Vegas

• World Ranking: 1
• Record: 7 Wins 17 Podiums

Lando Norris has been driving brilliantly and positioned himself beautifully in the lead of the Drivers’ Championship. After winning in both Mexico and Brazil, Norris drove well again in Las Vegas, completing the race in second place. Unfortunately, his disqualification due to a technical issue cost him significantly in terms of points, and he remains 24 points ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who won the race. Given his current form and his expected desire to turn around his fortunes from Las Vegas, he must be a favourite for our Qatar Grand Prix prediction.

Max Verstappen – Can he win in Doha for a third year in a row?

• World Ranking: 3
• Record: 6 Wins 13 Podiums

After Norris’ and Piastri’s disqualifications in Las Vegas, Max Verstappen has found his slim chance of winning his fifth World Title, a little less slim. After crossing the finish line in first place in the Nevada desert, Verstappen is now tied for points with Oscar Piastri and just 24 points behind first place. Having won the last two races in Doha, Verstappen clearly has the skills to drive this grid well, so it would be wrong to discount him from our Qatar Grand Prix prediction.

Oscar Piastri – Can he fend off Verstappen for second place in the Championship?

• World Ranking: 2
• Record: 7 Wins 14 Podiums

After being disqualified in Las Vegas, Oscar Piastri has found himself equal on points with Max Verstappen and 24 points away from the top spot of the Drivers’ Championship. While he started the year with a 9th place finish in Australia, since then Piastri has hardly found himself off the podium – until his Did Not Finish in Azerbaijan, that is, and he hasn’t found himself back there since. If he’s hoping for a 1-2 finish in the Drivers’ Championship with his McLaren teammate Lando Norris, he will need to pull his finger out and get himself back to a podium finish in Doha.

George Russell – Can he achieve a third win this season?

• World Ranking: 4
• Record: 2 Wins 9 Podiums

Aside from the three drivers already mentioned, George Russell is the only other to have won a Grand Prix this year. He consistently finishes in the top five and is a solid driver, ready to take a win should Verstappen, Piastri and Norris take each other out as they vie to win the Championship. George Russell is not a driver to be underestimated.

Kimi Antonelli – Can he reach the top of the podium?

• World Ranking: 7
• Record: 0 Wins 3 Podiums

Kimi Antonelli hasn’t had his greatest season in Formula One this year, but he did finish second in Brazil and ended up placing third in Las Vegas after the McLarens’ disqualifications. Given that he doesn’t stand a chance of winning the Drivers’ Championship, he’s free to just get on and race, which could result in a surprise win from Kimi, so we think he should be a consideration for our Qatar Grand Prix prediction.

Where to watch the Qatar Grand Prix

Where you can watch the Qatar Grand Prix depends on where in the world you are located. Each country has an official F1 Broadcaster, most of which require a paid subscription. However, you may find that you are able to watch the highlights of the Grand Prix weekend on an alternative, free-to-view channel. For example, in the UK, the race will air live on Sky Sports; but the highlights are typically available just a few hours after the race on Channel 4.

Here is a list of some of the major Grand Prix broadcasters, and the countries they serve:

• Sky Sports – Germany, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, New Zealand, United Kingdom
• Viaplay – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden
• ESPN – Argentina, Caribbean, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, USA
• BeIN – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey
• DAZN – Andorra, Japan, Spain

Prediction for the Qatar Grand Prix

In conclusion, our Qatar Grand Prix prediction is that Max Verstappen will take first place in this race. Provided he can do well in qualifying, we think that Verstappen will be fueled by his potential proximity to a fifth Championship title, and bolstered by his two previous wins at the Lusail International Circuit. If he can get to the front of the grid and make a clean start, we think he can pip the McLarens to the post and seize victory.