With three drivers in the fight for the World Drivers’ Championship title, The UCSD Guardian’s Sports section predicts who will be crowned the 2025 champion at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Dec. 7.
Emily Gjevre, Staff Writer
World Drivers’ Championship prediction: Lando Norris
Whether you love him or despise him, it’s inevitable that Lando Norris will be the 2025 Formula One world champion. In a three-way title battle that’s eerily similar to Kimi Räikkönen’s 2007 World Drivers’ Championship win over Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, Norris will come out on top.
Norris has had a stellar season, clinching seven race wins under his belt — but it hasn’t been without bumps in the road. A DNF in the Canadian Grand Prix, an engine issue that forced him to retire in the Netherlands, and a DSQ in Las Vegas landed blows to Norris’ lead in the championship, though he remains atop the standings by a slim 24-point margin.
In the last two races and the final sprint of the season, the pressure is on for him to outperform teammate Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, who are tied for second place. The only thing standing between Norris and his first championship title is 2 points. If he leads Piastri and Verstappen by 2 points each — finishing at least third in the sprint and the Grand Prix — at the end of the weekend in Qatar, the championship will go to Norris. Unless Norris bins it entirely or his engine gives up, there’s only a very slim chance that Piastri or Verstappen will be able to claw their way back. There’s no Nicholas Latifi to save you this time, guys.
To quote Charles Leclerc: “Lando, we can be world champion, I said!”
Abigail Kapur, Sports Co-Editor
World Drivers’ Championship prediction: Oscar Piastri
If Oscar Piastri has proved one thing this season, it’s that he’s as good as his teammate Lando Norris — or better. In only his third year of Formula One, Piastri forged a remarkable start, kicking off the season with seven wins in the first 15 races. After taking the checkered flag at the Dutch Grand Prix in late August for his ninth career win, Piastri reached a season-high 34-point World Drivers’ Championship lead over Norris, proving that he has the ability to outdrive him in the same car.
But the second half of the season saw Piastri’s championship run falter. A recent slump where Piastri has failed to make the podium for the last six races has left him tied for second with Max Verstappen and 24 points behind Norris, ahead of the Qatar sprint.
With the exception of the Canadian Grand Prix crash that led to Norris’ DNF, the McLaren drivers seem to have enough respect to compete without unnecessary risk. With two more races and a sprint on the calendar, the pressure is on. To stay in contention, Piastri essentially has to take the checkered flag in Qatar while Norris and Verstappen bin it. But this is F1, and anything from a double McLaren disqualification in Las Vegas to a Nico Hülkenberg podium can happen. Call it wishful thinking, but Piastri’s early-season speed and intense focus will lead him to the WDC title in Abu Dhabi.
Sam Propst, Staff Writer
World Drivers’ Championship prediction: Max Verstappen
If Formula One fans have learned anything over the past four years, it’s that you should never rule out Max Verstappen.
No one expected a Verstappen comeback coming out of the summer break. While his podium at the Dutch Grand Prix was exciting, his 104-point gap to World Drivers’ Championship leader Oscar Piastri was less so. Since then, however, Verstappen has been on the podium every race, never failing to put on a “simply lovely” performance.
One of Verstappen’s finest runs this season was at the Brazilian Grand Prix. He started from the pit lane, dealt with a punctured tire causing an extra pit stop, and still managed to place third. This result was reminiscent of his flawless drive at the same track last year, when he went from 17th to first.
All this to say, the Dutch lion doesn’t run away from a challenge. A hard-fought victory is sweeter than an easy win, and Verstappen has been diligently chipping away at the gap between himself and the McLaren drivers. With six wins under his belt and two races to go, it is entirely possible for Verstappen to secure his fifth championship title if he is able to outperform the McLarens.
In the words of title-rival Piastri, “It’s a very different feeling when you’ve got Max in a Red Bull behind you because you know it’s going to be a matter of when he comes past you, not if.”
Alan Zhang, Sports Co-Editor
World Drivers’ Championship prediction: Lando Norris
Don’t listen to the haters. Lando Norris may be annoying and whiny, but there is no denying his strong performances in recent weeks.
While the British driver has been stellar all season, a collision with fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri in Canada and an oil leak in the Netherlands put Norris’ title bid on the ropes. However, he soldiered on, dominating all drivers not named Max Verstappen. Norris outperformed Piastri in six straight Grand Prix races following the incident in Zandvoort, and did so again in Las Vegas before a double DSQ robbed him of his points.
His finest moment came at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Entering the race, he was behind Piastri by 14 points in the World Drivers’ Championship standings, which meant that a good race would see him emerge as the new favorite. Norris took pole and faced little resistance on his way to the checkered flag, beating title-rivals Verstappen and Piastri by 30 seconds and 42 seconds, respectively.
All Norris needs to do now is not choke. Even if Piastri recovers his form, Norris still looks out of sight. Verstappen, fighting for his fifth consecutive title, presents a possible rival, but with only two races left, Norris is in the driver’s seat.
