F1 news - latest: Max Verstappen reacts to McLaren DSQs ahead of Qatar GP

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Follow live F1 updates as the title contenders speak to the media ahead of the penultimate race of the season in Qatar

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F1 next heads to Qatar for the penultimate race of the 2025 F1 season - and the final sprint weekend of the year - with the drivers’ championship title race fully reignited following the dramatic end to the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Lando Norris, currently leading the drivers’ standings, thought he’d extended the gap on teammate Oscar Piastri thanks to a second-place finish in Vegas, only for both McLaren cars to be disqualified for excessive skid plank wear on both cars, with the minimum thickness falling below the 9mm threshold allowed.

That means Max Verstappen, who triumphed in Vegas, has closed the deficit on Norris to just 24 points and will be targeting a fifth world title over the final two races of the year. Piastri and Verstappen are level on points behind Norris, and with 33 points up for grabs in Lusail this weekend, the season could yet face another dramatic twist.

Norris is still the favourite to win the title and could seal the title, sprint race dependent, with a victory in the grand prix on Sunday. Two second-place finishes in Qatar and Abu Dhabi would also be enough for the Briton, but anything less opens the door for Verstappen and teammate Piastri.

Follow live coverage of the Qatar Grand Prix with The Independent

• F1 world champion backs Max Verstappen to win title after McLaren disqualifications
• Lando Norris hit by McLaren’s all-time F1 screw-up but one move can still save title dream
• When can Lando Norris win the 2025 F1 world championship?

F1 QATAR GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES

• The penultimate round of the 2025 season takes place in Qatar
• Max Verstappen will react this afternoon to McLaren's double DSQ in Vegas
• Lando Norris still leads the world championship by 24 points
• McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has explained the team's errors in Vegas

TOP-3 - WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

The gap is 24 points.

1. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 390 points

2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 366 points

3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 366 points

Max Verstappen after Las Vegas:

This is all we’ve heard from Max since that Vegas win - he is due to speak to the media at 4pm (GMT) this afternoon.

Start times this weekend in Qatar:

All times GMT

Friday 28 November

• Free practice 1: 1:30pm
• Sprint Qualifying: 5.30pm

Saturday 29 November

• Sprint Race: 2pm
• Qualifying: 6pm

Sunday 30 November

• Race: 4pm

F1 Qatar Grand Prix

F1 next heads to Qatar for the penultimate race of the 2025 F1 season - and the final sprint weekend of the year - with the drivers’ championship title race fully reignited following the dramatic end to the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Lando Norris, currently leading the drivers’ standings, thought he’d extended the gap on teammate Oscar Piastri thanks to a second-place finish in Vegas, only for both McLaren cars to be disqualified for excessive skid plank wear on both cars, with the minimum thickness falling below the 9mm threshold allowed.

That means Max Verstappen, who triumphed in Vegas, has closed the deficit on Norris to just 24 points and will be targeting a fifth world title over the final two races of the year. Piastri and Verstappen are level on points behind Norris, and with 33 points up for grabs in Lusail this weekend, the season could yet face another dramatic twist.

Norris is still the favourite to win the title and could seal the title, sprint race dependent, with a victory in the grand prix on Sunday. Two second-place finishes in Qatar and Abu Dhabi would also be enough for the Briton, but anything less opens the door for Verstappen and teammate Piastri.

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