"The McLaren driver enters this weekend's final round in Abu Dhabi trailing teammate Lando Norris and Red Bull's four-time reigning champion Max Verstappen in the standings. The 24-year-old has had to overcome a curse from a fast food chain and dubious enforcement of the so-called papaya rules just to stay in the mix for the title, and his team were to blame for a strategy error that cost him victory last weekend in Qatar."
"But a window for Piastri remains open, however narrow, for what would be one of the most unlikely final-round championship comebacks in Formula One history. F1 driver standings Already 2025 is the first season to have three or more drivers still in the title race heading into the final round since 2010, when Sebastian Vettel secured his first of four titles."
"That year Mark Webber now coincidentally Piastri's manager and Fernando Alonso were the top-ranked drivers entering the final round, but finished well behind Vettel, who made up a 15-point deficit to clinch a memorable championship. Piastri is currently 16 points behind Norris, and four behind Verstappen, and needs to finish first or second simply to earn enough points to eclipse Norris's total heading into the race. Then he needs to rely on his McLaren colleague and Verstappen underperforming or failing to finish."
Oscar Piastri enters the Abu Dhabi finale 16 points behind teammate Lando Norris and four points behind Max Verstappen. He must finish first or second to have a mathematical chance and then depend on both Norris and Verstappen underperforming or failing to finish. A Piastri victory would secure the title if Norris finishes no better than sixth; second place would require an even more unlikely set of outcomes. Piastri has navigated off-track distractions—a fast-food curse and disputed enforcement of 'papaya' rules—and a McLaren strategy error cost him a win in Qatar. A narrow window for an improbable comeback remains, echoing 2010.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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