F1 title race tightens between Norris, Piastri, and Verstappen; Adrian Newey promoted at Aston Martin
Lando Norris holds a 24-point lead over Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri with two races remaining in the F1 season. Separately, Adrian Newey was promoted to Aston Martin Team Principal for 2026.
November 27, 2025 - 01:05 AM ET • 2 min read
The 2025 Formula 1 World Championship is heading toward a dramatic conclusion with three drivers (Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen) still mathematically eligible for the title.
The championship fight intensified following McLaren's disqualification in the Las Vegas Grand Prix last weekend. With 58 points still available across the final two races in Qatar (which includes a sprint race) and the United Arab Emirates, the title remains open.
Lando Norris, the 26-year-old McLaren driver, enters the final stretch as the favorite, holding a 24-point advantage over his closest pursuers. Norris has accelerated his performance in the latter part of the season, overcoming earlier errors that had previously raised doubts about his capacity to win the world championship.
Verstappen, who trails Norris by 24 points, is still viewed by some experts as a serious contender. Former Ferrari driver René Arnoux said today that if anyone can close the gap, it is Verstappen, citing the Dutch driver's experience, consistency, and ability to improve throughout a race weekend. Arnoux suggested that Norris is currently under pressure.
Norris's teammate, Oscar Piastri, also remains in contention, though Arnoux noted that the Australian driver, who had a strong first half of the season, appears weak at this critical moment.
Aston Martin Announces 2026 Leadership
In separate Formula 1 news, the Aston Martin team today formalized a significant organizational change ahead of the 2026 season, promoting Adrian Newey to Team Principal.
Newey, an engineer described as a legend of the discipline, joined Aston Martin in March this year as Head of Engineering. He was previously a key figure responsible for Red Bull's dominance in recent years.
In his new role as Team Principal, Newey will assume the highest authority, including having the final word on car operations on the track. The restructuring also includes the transfer of Andy Cowell to the position of Director of Strategy.
Newey expressed confidence in the talent within the team, stating he looks forward to the role as they position themselves to compete in 2026, when Aston Martin transitions into a factory team.