Formula 1 arrives at Yas Marina for its most dramatic season finale in over a decade, with three drivers still in contention for the world championship. Lando Norris leads the standings on 408 points, holding a slender 12-point advantage over Max Verstappen and 16 over his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. With 25 points available for a race win, the title remains wide open heading into Sunday’s twilight showdown.

Norris enters as the clear favorite. A podium finish will guarantee him his first world championship, regardless of what his rivals achieve. Even if Verstappen wins, third place would be enough for Norris to seal the crown. Anything lower than that, however, could open the door for a late twist.

Verstappen, chasing a fifth consecutive title, must win to have a realistic chance. Victory combined with Norris finishing fourth or worse would hand the Dutchman the championship. A second-place finish could also suffice, but only if Norris slips to eighth or lower and Piastri fails to win. For Verstappen, the permutations are tight, but his recent surge — including back-to-back wins in Las Vegas and Qatar — makes him a formidable threat.

Piastri faces the steepest climb. The Australian needs to win and hope Norris finishes sixth or lower. A second-place finish could keep his hopes alive only if Norris drops to tenth or worse and Verstappen fails to make the podium. Anything less will end his bid for a maiden title.

Qualifying has already set the stage for fireworks. Verstappen starts from pole, with Norris alongside on the front row and Piastri in third. George Russell lines up fourth, ready to play spoiler. Track position is crucial at Yas Marina, where overtaking opportunities are limited and strategy often dictates the outcome. All three contenders have seven wins this season, meaning a tie on points would be decided by second-place finishes — an area where Norris holds the advantage.

Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett has died at age 39, JR Motorsports (JRM) announced Friday in a social media post and confirmed to NASCAR.com. No cause of death was announced.

Annett, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, made 436 combined starts across NASCAR’s three national touring series during his racing career. He retired from racing in 2021 after a stress fracture in his leg sidelined him for parts of that season.

Who Was Michael Annett?

Annett was a respected NASCAR competitor who made his mark primarily in the Xfinity Series where he recorded 321 starts over his career. His greatest achievement came in 2019 when he won the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway driving the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet, his only win at NASCAR’s national level.

The victory held special significance for JRM co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who compared it to Michael Waltrip’s 2001 Daytona 500 win after being hired by Dale Earnhardt to drive for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

Before pursuing stock-car racing, Annett played ice hockey as a defenseman for the United States Hockey League’s Waterloo Black Hawks. His 2004 season earned him a “Most Improved Player” award as his team won the Clark Cup alongside future NHL player Joe Pavelski, who went on to play 18 seasons with the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars, per NASCAR.com.

What To Know

Annett made 158 of his Xfinity Series starts with JRM from 2017 through 2021, helping transform the organization into the four-car team it remains today. He also earned two victories in the ARCA Menards Series, winning at Talladega Superspeedway in 2007 and the series opener at Daytona in 2008.

Annett ascended to the Xfinity Series in 2008 before going full-time in 2009, racing with teams including Germain Racing, Rusty Wallace Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports, according to NASCAR.com. He spent three years at NASCAR’s top level in the Cup Series, driving for Turner Scott Motorsports from 2014 through 2016 and making 106 starts.

Annett’s late father, Harrold, previously served as CEO of TMC Transportation, which sponsored much of Annett’s racing efforts. Harrold also co-owned a sprint-car team which fielded cars for famed dirt-tracker Sammy Swindell, collecting 35 wins in their four years together. TMC Transportation and Pilot Flying J remain sponsors of JRM’s Xfinity endeavors through driver Sammy Smith, who pilots the team’s No. 8 Chevrolet.

What People Are Saying

NASCAR’s statement: “NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett. Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer.”

NASCAR multi-media storyteller Steven Taranto said on X: “Michael Annett led a modest 13 laps in 106 NASCAR Cup Series starts. The most came at Talladega in the fall of 2016, where he led six on an off-strategy during a cycle of green flag stops. Broadcast was in a break for this. Watched the raw feed back. Found it poignant.”

NASCAR driver Jeremy Clements said on X: “RIP Michael Annett. Was a pleasure to go to door to door with you for so many years. You’ll be missed.”

JR Motorsports said on X: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett. Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”

Sammy Smith, JR Motorsports driver, said on X: “Very sad to lose someone who meant so much to me and my family. Michael was a great person to so many, and we’ll miss him a lot.”

Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing co-owner, said in a statement: “Michael was an up-and-comer at the same time I was and he was looking really good. In the end, life took us different paths and all of us who knew him and the talent he had are sad to see him go.”

Team RSMG on X: “We are sad to have lost a family member. Michael Annett will always be in our hearts. Our thoughts are with the Annett family at this time. Rest in peace MA.”

Motorsport on X: “We’re saddened to learn NASCAR driver Michael Annett has died at the age of 39. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

What Happens Next?

The NASCAR and racing community continues to mourn Annett’s passing, with tributes pouring in from former teammates and competitors across the sport.

Details regarding memorial services have not yet been announced.

Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.

Michael Annett, who made race starts in all three NASCAR national series, has died at the age of 39. The news was announced by one of Annett’s former race teams, JR Motorsports.

Annett last made a NASCAR start in 2021 when he ran in 26 races in the Xfinity Series. But throughout his career, Annett made 321 starts in that series with one win, as well as nine starts in the Craftsman Truck Series and three full seasons in the Cup Series.

“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” read a statement from NASCAR. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”

A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Annett arrived in NASCAR in 2008 and spent much of his career in the Xfinity Series. Annett competed for teams including Germain Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, and JR Motorsports. It was JR Motorsports that Annett won his only NASCAR national series race.

In the Cup Series, Annett drove for Tommy Baldwin and Harry Scott.

Annett stepped away from racing in 2021 after dealing with a stress fracture in his leg. He had injured his leg during the summer while working out and then reinjured it before the end of the season, which sidelined him.

Michael Annett, a former NASCAR driver, has died, his former team, JR Motorsports, announced Friday.

He was 39.

No cause of death was announced for Annett, who drove for that team in the Xfinity Series from 2017-21.

But fellow NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski wrote on X that he is “glad [Annett] is no longer suffering.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR Motorsports posted on the social media site. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”

Annett, an Iowa native, made more than 400 career starts in NASCAR’s three national touring series following his debut in 2008, including an Xfinity Series victory at Daytona International Speedway in 2019 — the lone national victory of his career, according to NASCAR.com.

His best season in the Xfinity Series was 2012, while driving for Richard Petty Motorsports, with six top-five finishes and a fifth-place ranking in the points standings.

Annett suffered a stress fracture in his right leg in 2021, his final professional season.

“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” NASCAR said in a statement. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage.

“Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Annett, a former racecar driver who made 436 combined starts in NASCAR’s three national touring series, has died. He was 39.

JR Motorsports, one of Annett’s former teams, posted the news on social media on Friday. No cause of death was announced.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” the team wrote. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”

According to NASCAR, Annett made 321 starts in the Xfinity Series, 158 of which came with JRM.
In 2019, Annett won the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet for his only win at the national level.

Annett, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, was also a two-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series. He won at Talladega Superspeedway in 2007 and then took the series opener at Daytona in 2008.

“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” the racing body said in a statement. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”

By Neha Dwivedi, Staff Writer

The NASCAR community was recently dealt a heavy blow with the passing of former Xfinity Series driver Michael Annett, who died at 39. Annett, who last competed in 2021 and logged time across all three national touring series, made 436 combined starts during his career. Of those, 321 came in the Xfinity Series, including 158 with JR Motorsports, the team that became synonymous with the strongest chapter of his tenure. JRM, co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., shared the heartbreaking news on Friday through a social media post, though no cause of death was disclosed.

With a picture of the former No. 1 Chevrolet JRM driver, the team wrote on X, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett. Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”

NASCAR reflected the sentiment in an official statement, honoring the former stock car racing competitor, writing, “NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett. Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”

While Annett had started racing after high school in his hometown, Iowa, he eventually advanced to the American Speed Association series. As he moved to ARCA, Annett found success in stock car racing, becoming a known face and earning wins at Talladega in 2007 and again at Daytona in the 2008 season opener. 

Annett’s NASCAR path began in 2008, when he transitioned to the Truck and Xfinity Series, and eventually ran full-time in Xfinity from 2009 to 2013. He competed with Germain Racing, Rusty Wallace Racing, and Richard Petty Motorsports, delivering his strongest early season in 2012, when he bagged six top 5s, 17 top 10s, and finished P5 in the championship standings.

Then, from 2014 through 2016, Annett advanced to the NASCAR Cup Series before returning to Xfinity competition with JR Motorsports in 2017. His hiring came from Dale Jr.’s belief in the Iowa-born driver’s ability to grow, and that confidence was rewarded in February 2019 when Annett scored a Daytona win, prompting Dale Jr. to draw comparisons to Michael Waltrip’s breakthrough 2001 Daytona 500 win after joining Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

His career, marked by steady progression, came to a close in 2021, when he announced his retirement after a stress fracture in his right femur sidelined him from several events.

But even after stepping out of the driver’s seat, Annett remained respected for his work ethic, his climb through NASCAR’s ranks, and the improbable bridge he once stood on between hockey and motorsports. Before racing, he patrolled the blue line as a defenseman for the Waterloo Black Hawks in the United States Hockey League, becoming one of the drivers, legitimately recognized as an athlete.

While hockey was something he tried out, racing ran in his family. His late father, Harrold Annett, served as CEO of TMC Transportation, the longtime backer of his career. Harrold co-owned a sprint-car team as well, famously fielding cars for Sammy Swindell, who won 35 races during their four-year run. Today, TMC and Pilot Flying J continue to appear in NASCAR through JR Motorsports’ No. 8 Chevrolet driven by Sammy Smith.

With Michael Annett’s passing, both the racing fraternity and the hockey circles that shaped his youth are mourning someone who carried himself with a competitor’s heart until the very end.