10 pivotal points in the 2025 F1 title fight - excluding Max Verstappen hitting George Russell

The 2025 Formula 1 season will be remembered as one of the most intense and unpredictable championship battles in modern history.

A fierce three‑way duel between Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri fluctuated from race to race, lap to lap.

Although Verstappen’s collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix — which resulted in him dropping nine points — was widely seen as a decisive swing given he ultimately lost the title by two points, a host of other swings throughout the season shaped the title fight.

Here are 10 other defining moments, in chronological order, with what happened and how they affected the championship.

1. Oscar Piastri spins in the Australian Grand Prix

In the season opener at Melbourne’s Albert Park, Piastri looked set for a podium behind team-mate Norris and ahead of Verstappen.

However, he lost control late in the race, spinning while running second. He dropped back through the field and ultimately recovered only to ninth.

Points swing: Lost approximately 16 points relative to a podium finish (he lost the title by 13).

Impact: Set an early buffer for Norris and Verstappen in a season where every point mattered.

2. Norris crashes into Piastri in Canada

At the Canadian Grand Prix, engaged in a close intra‑team battle, Norris misjudged a move on Piastri when fighting for fourth position.

Contact heading toward the first corner ended the Briton's race ended their races, leaving him to take home zero points. Piastri managed to retain his place, collecting 12 points.

Points swing: Norris lost 10 points.

Impact: Cost Norris in the fight against Piastri. Verstappen finished second, so he picked up 18 more points than him.

3. Piastri penalised at the British Grand Prix

At Silverstone, Piastri was penalised for erratic braking during a safety car restart. Although he still finished second, the 10‑second penalty arguably cost him victory over his team-mate.

Meanwhile, Verstappen spun later in the race but still collected solid points.

Points swing: Piastri lost roughly seven points to Norris; Verstappen's is harder to quantify.

Impact: Allowed Norris to strengthen his position with a 14-point swing and claim a crucial home‑race result.

4. Norris retires from the Dutch Grand Prix

Running second at Zandvoort, Norris suddenly slowed due to an oil leak and was forced to retire, with Piastri — and Verstappen — capitalising.

It boosted the Australian's championship lead from a would-be 16 points to 34.

Points swing: Norris lost 18 points more to his team-mate, Verstappen gained three.

Impact: Handed Piastri a healthy advantage, leaving Norris with a lot of work to do.

5. McLaren switches positions at the Italian Grand Prix

At Monza, McLaren used team orders to invert Piastri and Norris' track positions after a slow pit stop disadvantaged the latter.

Norris had been ahead, in second, but McLaren pitted Piastri, from third, first to cover Charles Leclerc behind.

Points swing: A six-point swing in Norris' favour, with him getting three extra points and Piastri the opposite.

Impact: McLaren's most blatant attempt to balance the scales seeded frustration in the Piastri camp which bled into the next weekend, in Baku.

6. Piastri’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix nightmare

Piastri’s weekend in Baku collapsed completely: after a qualifying crash that dropped him down the grid, he jumped the start in the race, activated anti‑stall, stalled and fell to the back, then crashed out on the opening lap.

Points swing: More difficult to quantify, as how much Piastri could have earned is academic, but Norris scored six points and Verstappen 25 for the win.

Impact: The hangover from Monza, this catastrophic round immediately eroded Piastri’s comfortable points buffer — but it could have been worse from a Norris perspective, who only finished seventh.

7. Piastri and Norris crash in Austin sprint

At the United States Grand Prix sprint race, Piastri clashed with Norris on the first lap after being hit by another car, taking both McLarens out of the sprint.

Neither scored sprint points, while Verstappen dominated both the sprint and the main race at the Circuit of the Americas.

Points swing: Each driver lost up to six or seven points they otherwise might have scored.

Impact: Verstappen continued to erode the advantage the McLaren pair held over him.

8. Piastri’s Brazil Weekend Woes

In São Paulo, Piastri crashed out of the sprint race whilst running third.

In the grand prix, he was controversially penalised for his incident with Kimi Antonelli and Leclerc, dropping him several places are serving his 10-second time penalty.

Points swing: Piastri lost six points in the sprint and arguably another eight in the grand prix, finishing fifth not second.

Impact: Norris claimed victory in both the sprint and grand prix, consigning Piastri to a huge loss in points, going from one point adrift to 24.

9. McLaren’s Double Disqualification in Las Vegas

In Las Vegas, Norris finished second and Piastri fourth on track behind race winner Verstappen.

However, both McLarens were disqualified after the race due to excessive plank wear, removing all points from both cars and dramatically tightening the championship.

Points swing: Norris lost 18 points (P2) and Piastri 12 points (P4).

Impact: The sudden zero score allowed Verstappen to close right back into the title fight.

10. McLaren's strategic blunder at the Qatar Grand Prix

At the Qatar Grand Prix, McLaren locked out the front row but misjudged its tyre strategy when the safety car came out on lap seven, the earliest point a car could pit and still complete the race in only two pit stops on a weekend with mandated tyre stint lengths.

Verstappen won the grand prix while Piastri and Norris finished second and fourth, respectively. It should have been a one-three at least for McLaren.

Points swing: Piastri lost seven points, and Norris lost at least three. Verstappen gained seven — or even 10 — points.

Impact: This error shaved critical points from Norris' championship buffer and kept Verstappen in the hunt entering Abu Dhabi, with the Dutchman leapfrogging Piastri in the standings.