The scenarios: This is how Norris, Verstappen or Piastri become world champions

But a few months ago hardly anyone else believed that the Dutchman would be there before the last race of the season on Sunday Abu Dhabi will still have a chance of winning his fifth world title.

For the first time since 2010: three drivers with a chance of winning the World Cup

The reason for this was, on the one hand, the outstanding Verstappen, but on the other hand, an inexplicable one Faux pas from McLaren. During a safety car period, the team left both cars on the track while all other teams came to change tires. As a result, McLaren missed the chance to finish 1st and 2nd. No title for them Lando Norris in Qatar, no victory for Oscar Piastri.

Instead, three drivers will compete for the title in the final race for the first time since 2010. Instead of celebrating, Norris had to explain the inexplicable. “We shouldn’t have done what we did.” The ridicule wasn’t just great at home. “Give McLaren a weapon and they would become themselves shoot in the feet“ mocked the British tabloid Daily Mail. Die Sun wrote of a “pit stop fiasco, for which Independent the performance was simply one “Nightmare”.

Nevertheless: The pendulum is swinging towards Verstappen, but Norris remains the favorite for the title. The COURIER with all scenarios for the last race in Abu Dhabi:

Norris becomes world champion if…

…he gets on the podium.

… he comes fourth or fifth and Verstappen doesn’t win.

… he finishes sixth or seventh and neither Verstappen nor Piastri win.

… he finishes eighth, Verstappen is third at most and Piastri doesn’t win the race.

… he finishes tenth or doesn’t score any points and Verstappen comes fourth at most and Piastri comes third at most.

Verstappen becomes world champion if…

…he wins the race and Norris finishes fourth at best.

… he finishes second, Norris at most eighth and Piastri doesn’t win the race.

… he comes third, Norris is ninth at most and Piastri doesn’t win the race.

Piastri becomes world champion if…

…he wins the race and Norris finishes sixth at best.

…he will finish second, Norris will be at most tenth and Verstappen will be at most fourth.

“Not left past on purpose”: Red Bull rows back

Things went perfectly for Verstappen in the World Cup recently. And yet his team stood in the criticism. In Qatar, motorsport consultant Helmut Marko suspected that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli had gifted fourth place to World Championship leader Lando Norris. “He waved him past. That was more than clear.”

As a result, Antonelli was on the Internet Hostilities exposed. The 19-year-old’s Instagram profile picture remained black on Monday. Mercedes wants loud racingnews365.com referred the matter to the FIA’s United Against Online Abuse campaign and flagged more than 1,100 serious or suspicious comments. On Monday, Red Bull pressed the issue in a statement “sincere regret” out of. Marko himself also commented again: “I’m sorry that Antonelli got into so much trouble online. To make it clear again: He has Norris not intentionally passed by.“