Overview
- Lando Norris leads on 408 points and can secure his first title with a podium, with Max Verstappen on 396 and Oscar Piastri on 392.
- Verstappen generally needs to win and for Norris to finish fourth or lower, while Piastri effectively must win and hope Norris is sixth or worse.
- Oscar Piastri will miss FP1 as Pato O’Ward drives under the rookie rule, costing the Australian an hour of practice on a decisive weekend.
- Norris said he will not ask Piastri to yield position, and both McLaren drivers indicated the topic has not been discussed within the team.
- A Formula1.com data error briefly displayed Norris as already champion, prompting fan backlash, though the title fight remains open under standard race weekend format without a sprint.