In 2026, Formula 1 introduces a significant change to its championship structure, adapting a new Chase-style playoff inspired by NASCAR. This format targets the best drivers after the initial part of the season, creating a compressed, high-stakes competition in the final races. The primary goal is to keep the championship fight fierce and unpredictable, impacting the Drivers’ Title race, including that of Lando Norris F1 Chase ambitions.
Details of the New Chase System and Its Adaptation for F1
The Chase format focuses on the top nine drivers after the first 26 races, who then compete intensively over the last seven events for the championship. Unlike a full reset, this system implements a partial points carryover: the points leader starts with a 13-point advantage, with subsequent drivers receiving correspondingly smaller gaps, recalibrated from NASCAR’s 55-point race wins down to F1’s 25-point scale.
Because NASCAR runs 50% more races than F1 and fields more drivers, adjustments were made. The number of drivers eligible for the F1 Chase was reduced to nine from NASCAR’s sixteen, reflecting the smaller F1 grid of 20 cars. This calibrated Chase aims to maintain fair competition and reflect F1’s distinct characteristics while introducing the playoff pressure familiar to American motorsports.
Projected Standings Going into the F1 Chase
As the Chase began, Oscar Piastri led the pack with 36 points before the truncated competition started, closely followed by Lando Norris at 23 points and Max Verstappen at 18. The lineup also included George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Antonelli, Alex Albon, and rookie Isack Hadjar. This group represented the cream of the 2025 season’s crop moving into the final seven races.
Key Moments from Early Chase Races Shake Up the Standings
The Singapore Grand Prix marked the first Chase race and instantly tightened the championship battle. Oscar Piastri’s lead was reduced to just eight points behind Singapore winner George Russell, pushing Lando Norris into third place. The following event in Austin was chaotic, including a notable sprint race collision between McLaren teammates, which allowed Max Verstappen to surge past both Norris and Russell, taking the championship lead themselves amid a tightly packed leaderboard separated by merely three points.
Isack Hadjar struggled to score throughout the Chase, highlighting the unforgiving nature of the new format for drivers outside the top tier.
Final Stretch Sees Norris Leading Before Title Falls to Verstappen
As the season neared its conclusion, Lando Norris briefly held the championship lead, with a 10-point advantage over Max Verstappen and a significant 35-point gap to third-place George Russell. Interestingly, Oscar Piastri had slipped to fourth place, highlighting his difficulties in the Chase phase. However, the races in Las Vegas dramatically worsened Piastri’s position, eventually cementing Verstappen’s dominance.
Max Verstappen clinched the title with a 37-point margin over Norris, underscoring how the Chase format intensified pressure on Norris and others. Despite Norris’ strong mid-Chase showing, Russell overtook Piastri, whose mid-season issues and a disqualification in Vegas severely limited his final standing. Russell maintained third place till the end, with Piastri unable to recover.
Other Notable Performances and Standings Shifts
Among the midfield battles, Kimi Antonelli stood out by outperforming Lewis Hamilton and breaking up the Ferrari duo’s mid-field hold, rising to sixth place. Meanwhile, Alex Albon struggled to make an impact, slipping to ninth after failing to score points in most races, apart from a few sprint points at Austin, which ultimately placed him behind Isack Hadjar in the final Chase tally.
Final Results of the 2025 F1 Chase Championship
The post-Chase standings for the 2025 season crowned Max Verstappen champion with 184 points. Lando Norris secured second place with 147 points, while George Russell completed the podium with 125. Oscar Piastri, despite a strong start, finished fourth at 122 points. Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton, Isack Hadjar, and Alex Albon rounded out the top nine, reflecting the reshaped dynamics under the Chase format.
Implications and Reflections on the Chase Format’s Impact
This experimental adaptation of NASCAR’s Chase in Formula 1 demonstrated how altering points structures and race focus can dramatically impact the championship battle. For Lando Norris, the format provided moments of leadership yet ultimately shifted the title toward Verstappen. While the format induced excitement and fresh competition scenarios, its suitability for F1 remains questionable.
Despite the new Chase system injecting tension and unpredictability, the lessons drawn suggest this approach might not enhance the traditional F1 season’s integrity or fairness. Still, its influence on driver strategies, team dynamics, and fan engagement warrants further consideration as F1 explores ways to evolve its championship format.
“We’re reduced to dissecting blurry photos from private test sessions, teams unveiling liveries that will never actually appear on track, and worst of all, listening to whatever Peter Windsor is saying.” ? Peter Windsor, Motorsport Analyst
“The points don’t quite completely reset for the Chase, but it does close things up. Whoever finished the first 26 races with the most points gets a 25-point advantage over the second driver.” ? Bradley Walsh (reference to NASCAR Chase system)
“What can we learn from this? God, absolutely nothing. Should F1 adopt this championship format? No! But did we have fun and make friends along the way? I think so, what about you?” ? Unattributed, Motorsport Commentator
