The Ella Edit

Image credit: Formula1.com
After the Qatar Grand Prix extended the title fight to this weekend, this is the closest battle fans have seen since the four way title fight in 2010. So here are all of my predictions for the final race of the season and the World Driver’s Championship (WDC).

1. Max Verstappen leads every lap

The lap Max set in qualifying was a statement that he will do everything in his power to obtain his fifth championship title. No matter how much work he puts in, whether he gets the fastest lap or not, his championship win is still reliant on Lando Norris finishing fourth or lower.

He is a brilliant driver and a four time world champion so I have no expectation that he won’t give up that place without the fight of his life.

2. McLaren are going to be awkward

Now I haven’t fully decided how this is going to happen yet but considering how the season has been going so far, its not unexpected.

Despite each driver having its own team for the weekend, something will probably happen that will involve Oscar Piastri having to help Lando in some way. If it was the other way round either something has gone seriously wrong in Lando’s race or McLaren are just taking a backseat and setting Max up for another WDC.

3. Another Alpine disappointment

A team that used to be best of the rest and had some interesting results over the last few years especially the double podium last year in Brazil.

Now sitting in dead last in the Constructors Championship, to me this is a team eagerly waiting for the season to end. Both drivers sit at the back of the grid this weekend so it seems like there is little hope for them.

4. Rookie Roulette

This season has had the most rookies in a while and personally, I think they’ve all done amazing jobs. They all have seats for next year which is a great sign, but this weekend is a bit of a mish-mash.

Kimi Antonelli sits in fourteenth which is a little lower than normal. His moving through the field into turn one could make the race interesting.

5. Ferrari make another poor strategy call

At this point it’s just a typical part of the weekend. The only time the team made the best strategy choice was in Qatar when they pit both cars on lap 7 and it was McLaren who were messing up their strategy instead (for once).

6. Yuki Tsunoda does something awesome

I think this might be more of a hope than a prediction, but after watching him slave away at Alpha Romeo then VCARB and now at Red Bull, I really want to see him be the brilliant driver we all know he can be.

I still agree that the second Red Bull seat is cursed, but I just want to see him perform like he was doing at the start of this year when he was in a team and a car that he worked so well with.

Honorable mentions include:

Lewis Hamilton having another stinker of a race – at this point he’s just waiting for 2026 and the new regulations.

Liam Lawson will likely fly under the radar as I feel he has been doing.

Williams could come out of absolutely no where and show us some more of the amazing racing we’ve seen coming from Carlos Sainz.

7. The World Driver’s Championship

My final prediction is obviously who I think will take the win for the WDC.

This is a question that I give more thought than I care to admit, but I think I’ve reached the conclusion which is *drumroll please*

Lando Norris.

Providing that he has a clean race there is no reason that he shouldn’t finish in 3rd or above and claim his very first world title.

To see if my predictions are accurate make sure to watch the race this Sunday at 1 p.m.

Whatever happens its been a brilliant season of racing and next season will be a whole new adventure that I personally can’t wait for.