<p>It’s set to be a mad sprint to the finish in one of the tightest title races in Formula 1 history.&nbsp;</p> <p>Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri all arrive at the final round separated by just 16 points in the<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/motor-racing/formula-1/f1-drivers-championship-2025-8767626"> Drivers' Standings for 2025</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s set the stage for a grandstand finish in Abu Dhabi to crown this year's champion, the first time there will be a three-way battle for the title in the final race of the season in 15 years.&nbsp;</p> <p>Across a year defined by dramatic team strategy calls, fluctuating form, and a string of shared victories, the fight for the championship remains wide open as we’ve hit the final turn of the season.&nbsp;</p> <p>The McLaren duo, Norris and his superstar Aussie teammate Piastri, have set the pace all season, before some inspired and resilient driving from Verstappen in the Red Bull has seen him come roaring back from the clouds to the cusp of stealing the championship.&nbsp;</p> <p>Under the lights of the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, every point and every finishing position carries massive stakes and importance.</p> <p>So, it’s lights out, and away we go!!&nbsp; Here is Sportsbet’s comprehensive guide to the final Formula 1 race of the season and what every contender needs to come away with the title of<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/motor-racing/formula-1/f1-drivers-championship-2025-8767626"> World Champion in Formula One for 2025</a>.</p> <p><br /> &nbsp;</p> <h2>How does the F1 Points System Work</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>At each Grand Prix, points are awarded to the top 10 finishers: 25 for first, 18 for second, 15 for third, then 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 &amp; 1 for each place 4th - 10th respectively.</p> <p>With the margins between Norris, Verstappen and Piastri being so small, the result at Abu Dhabi will likely be settled by who finishes where. And, if points are tied, a countback rule (number of wins and then number of runner-ups) will apply.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>What Each Driver Needs in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to Win the F1 Championship in 2025</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Lando Norris</h3> <p>As the leader heading into the final round, Norris has the easiest route to the championship.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>- All he needs to do is finish on the podium, and the title is his. Regardless of where Verstappen or his teammate Piastri finish.</p> <p>- If he runs fourth or fifth, he will still win the championship, provided Max Verstappen doesn’t win the race.</p> <p>- If he finishes sixth or seventh, he will also stay champion, provided both Verstappen and Piastri finish second or worse.&nbsp;</p> <p>- If he crashes out and fails to score, he will need Verstappen to finish outside the top three and Piastri to finish no better than third to hold onto a win.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In short, if Lando Norris finishes on the podium in Abu Dhabi, he will be crowned champion for 2025.&nbsp;</p> <p><br /> &nbsp;</p> <h3>Max Verstappen</h3> <p>Back in August, it was unthinkable to think that he’d be in with a chance. But never ever count out a champion.&nbsp;</p> <p>And, when you’re of the ilk of the Dutch superstar who has won the last four F1 titles, we shouldn’t be surprised that he’s in with a puncher's chance at the last weekend of the year.</p> <p>Max’s margin for error, though, while it isn’t zero, it’s slim.</p> <p>Currently in second spot on the Drivers Standings and trailing Norris by 12 points, He must outscore Norris to overturn the deficit.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>To do this, he must ensure one of the following happens.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>- Win the race and hope Norris misses the podium entirely.&nbsp;</p> <p>- He must finish on the podium. Either block. The higher the better, obviously.&nbsp;</p> <p>- If he doesn’t win, he can finish second and need Norris to finish eighth or lower, and ensure that Piastri does not win.&nbsp;</p> <p>- If he finishes third, with Norris finishing ninth or lower and ensuring that Piastri finishes with just single points.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In short, Verstappen needs to finish on the podium to ensure he still has a chance of winning. Otherwise, his remarkable late dash at the title will fall short.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Oscar Piastri</h3> <p>Does the ‘Wonder from Down Under’ have one final effort in pursuit of the title?</p> <p>After leading the chase for the title for much of the year, Piastri has seen the title slip through his fingers by the way of either poor form or strategic shenanigans (you decide).</p> <p>Heading into the final week, Piastri has slipped to third in the Drivers' Standings. Aided by a win in the Sprint Race in Qatar, he finds himself&nbsp; 16 points behind his Papaya teammate at the top.&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s not insurmountable, but he has it all to do in the final round.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>- Simply put, he has to win the race. He has to win the race and make sure that his teammate finishes in sixth place or lower. If this were to happen, it doesn’t matter where Verstappen finishes due to the current gap between the two drivers (four points).</p> <p>- If Piastri doesn’t win, he must finish second and ensure that Norris finishes outside the points and Verstappen misses the podium.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s a long shot, but we still have faith in our Aussie superstar, especially after he roared back to form in Qatar. But we know he’s fighting other forces within.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>In Summary:</h2> <p>This weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will decide the 2025 World Champion. It’s only the 32nd time in approximately 75 years that the title comes down to the final race, and the first time in 15 years that there are three drivers in contention for the title at the final race of the year.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>-For Norris, A chance at a maiden world championship is achieved with a straightforward podium</p> <p>-For Verstappen - A shot at a record-equalling fifth consecutive title, but with little to zero margin for error.</p> <p>-For Piastri, his chances are slim, but with a glimmer of hope, there is a route to victory, providing things fall his way.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>With rival teams and strategies in play and pressure ramped up to the absolute max, Abu Dhabi is set to deliver a classic grand finale to what has been a pulsating season.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>2025 Formula 1 Championship Odds:&nbsp;</h2>