Max Verstappen, the newly-crowned quadruple world champion, will shift his focus from the drivers' title race to the teams' contest this weekend as he spearheads Red Bull's bid to retain their crown at the Qatar Grand Prix. Just days after securing his fourth championship with a strategic fifth-place finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the 27-year-old Dutchman is set to return to the track, aiming to replicate his pole-to-flag victory from last year.
Verstappen holds the lap record at the Lusail International Circuit, established in 2023, and is expected to drive with confidence. However, he will face stiff competition from rivals including McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes. After a setback in the drivers' title fight last weekend, Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri will look to strengthen their lead, currently at 608 points, 24 ahead of Ferrari and 53 ahead of Red Bull, with two Grands Prix remaining.
Verstappen's victory in last year's race, followed by Norris and Piastri's sprint win, suggests that McLaren, with their recent improvements, could dominate the weekend. Meanwhile, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, who will join Ferrari after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, won the inaugural Qatar race in 2021. The 2022 event was canceled due to Qatar hosting the soccer World Cup final.
"Winning the title was an incredible moment," Verstappen said before arriving in Doha. "I am proud of what we achieved as a team. We faced challenges but stayed united and never gave up, making this victory special." He added, "We are focused on the Qatar race and it will be a busy weekend. The season isn't over yet... We aim to maintain our momentum and secure as many points as possible for the team."
Verstappen can expect a robust challenge from rivals, including Mercedes' George Russell, who won in Nevada and expressed his intent to vie for the title in 2025. "Nobody is unbeatable," Russell said, amid discussions of Verstappen's era of dominance. "You go through phases when teams and drivers dominate, but you must believe in yourself... Personally, I believe we can compete with him on equal terms."
The shift to the constructors' championship will see teams vying for prestige and prize money, with the champion team estimated to win $140-150 million, the runners-up $130-135 million, and the third-placed team around $125 million. Each subsequent team will receive approximately $10 million less. This structure will change in 2026 with the entry of General Motors' Cadillac brand, coinciding with F1's expected growth fueled by American interest.
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