{"id":295138,"date":"2025-11-30T20:19:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-30T18:19:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T10:27:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T08:27:58","slug":"max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Verstappen wins to set up thrilling championship finale"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday to set up a final race title showdown with McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Red Bull driver maintained his quest for a fifth successive crown after pole-sitter Piastri finished second and standings leader Norris came only fourth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" data-attachment-id=\"295140\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown\/auto-prix-f1-qat-race\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AFP__20251130__86M89KC__v1__MidRes__AutoPrixF1QatRace-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1200,800\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;AFP&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Williams&#039; Spanish driver Carlos Sainz drives during the Formula One Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail on November 30, 2025. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR \/ AFP)&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1764531074&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;AFP or Licensors&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;AUTO-PRIX-F1-QAT-RACE&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"AUTO-PRIX-F1-QAT-RACE\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Williams&amp;#8217; Carlos Sainz finished third in the Qatar Grand Prix. Photo: Karim JAAFAR \/ AFP)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AFP__20251130__86M89KC__v1__MidRes__AutoPrixF1QatRace-1-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1_AFP__20251130__86M89KC__v1__MidRes__AutoPrixF1QatRace-1.jpg\" alt='' class=\"wp-image-295140\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Williams&#8217; Carlos Sainz finished third in the Qatar Grand Prix. Photo: Karim JAAFAR \/ AFP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Verstappen&#8217;s remarkable late-season surge has lifted him past Piastri and into second in the championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Dutchman now goes into the season-closer next weekend only 12 points behind Norris, with Piastri 16 points behind his teammate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Verstappen cherishes fond memories of the last time the title went down to the wire when he beat Lewis Hamilton on the last lap of the last race in Abu Dhabi in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-novanews wp-block-embed-novanews\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/novanews.co.za\/verstappen-on-course-for-title-no-5\/\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday, setting up a title showdown against Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri next week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":295141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"1","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"22","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_pos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This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Verstappen wins to set up thrilling championship finale | Noordkaap Bulletin<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Max Verstappen wins Qatar Grand Prix to close gap on Lando Norris. 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Title battle heads to final race with 12-point deficit.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Noordkaap Bulletin\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NoordkaapBulletin\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-30T18:19:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-01T08:27:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AFP__20251130__86MD48Q__v1__MidRes__AutoPrixF1QatRace.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"AFP\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dustin Wetdewich\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Dustin Wetdewich\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3bc41b26c6ae81354d664df0b231d6d8\"},\"headline\":\"Verstappen wins to set up thrilling championship finale\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-30T18:19:43+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-01T08:27:58+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":143,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/AFP__20251130__86MD48Q__v1__MidRes__AutoPrixF1QatRace.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"F1 championship\",\"Max Verstappen\",\"Motor Sport\",\"Qatar Grand Prix\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Sport\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2025\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown\\\/\",\"name\":\"Verstappen wins to set up thrilling championship finale | Noordkaap Bulletin\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/max-verstappen-qatar-grand-prix-title-fight-final-race-showdown\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/noordkaapbulletin\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/AFP__20251130__86MD48Q__v1__MidRes__AutoPrixF1QatRace.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-30T18:19:43+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-01T08:27:58+00:00\",\"description\":\"Max Verstappen wins Qatar Grand Prix to close gap on Lando Norris. 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