Motorsports
Norris Grows Up as McLaren Takes Charge in Brazil
Lando Norris extended his Formula One championship lead to 24 points after an impressive victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, capping off a weekend filled with tension, crashes, and shifting fortunes across the grid.
The 25-year-old McLaren driver, who once admitted to overthinking and caring too much about public perception, now appears transformed. Gone is the self-doubting “nice guy” of last year’s heartbreak in Brazil. In his place stands a more focused, battle-hardened racer who simply said, “Ignore everyone that talks crap about you and just focus on yourself.”
That mindset has paid off. Norris now has seven wins and ten podiums this season, including eight second-place finishes—more than any other driver. His teammate Oscar Piastri, who once led the standings by 30 points, hasn’t finished on the podium since Monza and has lost momentum.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen’s chances of defending his title are fading. The four-time champion started from the pit lane but still managed to finish third behind Norris and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. Despite admitting that a 49-point deficit is “too many points to really have a proper chance,” Verstappen vowed not to give up, with his eyes set on Las Vegas.
Ferrari, however, endured another nightmare weekend. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc retired, marking Ferrari’s second consecutive double DNF. Hamilton, who hasn’t stood on the podium in 21 races, was penalized after a collision and could only lament a tough season.
McLaren now lead the constructors’ standings, followed by Mercedes and Red Bull. Ferrari, down to fourth, are counting the days until 2026’s rule reset.
Abu Dhabi is set for a nerve-testing finish as Lando Norris steps into the biggest race of his career. Holding a slim 12-point lead heading into Sunday’s finale, the McLaren driver knows a podium would seal his first Formula 1 world title. But momentum sits firmly with Max Verstappen, who has clawed his way back into contention with five wins in his last eight races.
McLaren arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit under pressure after a difficult stretch. The team’s misjudged pit call in Qatar allowed Verstappen to snatch a win despite Oscar Piastri topping every session that weekend. Two weeks earlier, both McLaren cars were disqualified in Las Vegas for excessive plank wear. Those setbacks reopened the door for Verstappen, who has spent the past month capitalizing on every mistake with near-perfect drives.
Piastri remains the dark horse in this three-way fight. Sixteen points behind Norris, he needs a win or second place plus some luck, but his strong form in Qatar has revived confidence. The Australian, managed by former F1 driver Mark Webber, is also chasing history as the first champion from his country since Alan Jones in 1980.
History adds another layer to this showdown. The last time more than two drivers arrived at the final race with a shot at the title was in 2010, when Sebastian Vettel surged from third in the standings to take the crown while rivals faltered. Norris knows this well. Although the McLaren has been the strongest car for much of the year, the team’s recent missteps have given Verstappen more than enough reason to believe he can equal Michael Schumacher’s run of five straight championships.
All three title contenders have seven wins apiece this season, with Mercedes’ George Russell taking the other two. McLaren locked up the constructors’ championship early and eased development, helping Red Bull close the gap and giving this finale its razor-thin margins.
Norris has kept his approach calm, crediting his team for the season’s success and vowing to give everything in the final push. Verstappen’s job is clear he must win and hope Norris finishes fourth or lower. Piastri’s path is narrower but still alive.
Around them, storylines continue. Mercedes hopes to grab second in the constructors’ race ahead of Red Bull. Yuki Tsunoda prepares for his final drive with the team before handing his seat to rookie Isack Hadjar. And Lewis Hamilton, a five-time winner in Abu Dhabi, aims to avoid ending his season without a podium.
After a year of unpredictable swings, three drivers arrive with a shot at the crown. Norris may have the advantage on paper, but under the lights of Yas Marina, nothing is guaranteed.
Max Verstappen kept his championship hopes alive after powering to victory at the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday, tightening the three-way title fight heading into the final race of the season.
Starting behind the two McLarens, Verstappen jumped Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris off the line and never looked back, even as strategy calls shaped the drama under the Lusail floodlights. Red Bull chose to bring Verstappen in during a safety car period, a move that proved decisive as McLaren opted to keep both drivers out.
Piastri, who had started from pole, admitted the team missed an opportunity. He pushed hard to close the gap but settled for second, while championship leader Norris could manage only fourth. Carlos Sainz delivered a strong late run to take third for Williams.
Verstappen’s win pushed him ahead of Piastri in the standings and placed him just 12 points behind Norris heading into next weekend’s season finale. With Piastri now 16 points off his teammate, all three remain in mathematical contention for the crown.
The Dutchman knows the pressure of a final-race shootout well, having sealed the 2021 title in dramatic fashion against Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi. After Sunday’s result, he said the team executed perfectly when it mattered most. “We made the right call to box under that safety car,” he said. “It was a strong race for us on a tough weekend.”
With all eyes now on the last race of the season, the championship remains wide open.
Indonesia’s Andika Rama returned to the top of Asian sim racing after ruling the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Asia eSports GT Championship 2025 in Bangkok. The three-race finale gathered 15 of the region’s best drivers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Rama, who first lifted the crown in 2023, finished the weekend with 74 points to secure the individual title. His teammate Moreno Pratama followed with 62, while Malaysia’s Chong Kai Chang grabbed third with 59. Their combined performance also pushed Indonesia to the Country Championship win with 169 points, ahead of Malaysia and Singapore.
Action kicked off at Suzuka, the only wet race on the calendar. Heavy rain forced drivers to manage tires carefully, turning the event into a battle of patience and reflexes. Rama snatched the win late after a tight scrap with Pratama and Chong. The second leg at Interlagos introduced the championship’s first-ever team format, where Malaysia’s trio executed clean driver swaps and strategy to take victory.
The final race at Watkins Glen brought the closest gaps. Singapore’s Fadtris Isa briefly chased Rama for the lead before the Indonesian driver regained control and sealed his second win of the night. Pratama made it an Indonesian one-two, with Chong storming from seventh to third.
Team Philippines ended fourth overall, with Enzo Ison delivering the nation’s best result in eighth place. Matthew Ang and Victor Ancheta followed in 13th and 14th.
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