Lando Norris admitted he would be “very happy” if McLaren’s team order with Oscar Piastri saved him a championship win at Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in a scenario where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is in the hunt for the title.
But the championship leader said he “doesn’t want to ask” the team, and both Norris and Piastri also claimed McLaren had not discussed the possibility of such a tactic with them.
Championship contenders Norris, Piastri and Verstappen sat side by side at Thursday’s pre-event press conference in Abu Dhabi ahead of Formula 1’s first deciding race with more than one driver since 2021 and the first time in 15 years.
Norris leads Verstappen by 12 points and Piastri by 16 points, so even if his rivals finish first and second, a podium finish on Sunday will be enough for the Brit to become world champion for the first time.
However, one widely discussed scenario in the run-up to the event is what McLaren and its title-chasing drivers would do in the final stages of the race if Verstappen wins, Piastri third and Norris fourth.
In this situation, Verstappen would have won the title, but if the McLarens were swapped, Norris would win the title instead with a two-point difference.
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Craig Slater explains what Max Verstappen, Piastri and Norris all need to do to win the title in Abu Dhabi
When that scenario and the broader topic of team orders was presented to his McLaren teammates at a press conference, Norris said: “That hasn’t been discussed yet. To be honest, I’m happy about it!”
“But I guess I don’t ask that, because… I don’t know, I don’t know.
“It’s up to Oscar to allow that. I don’t think it’s necessarily up to me.”
Norris added, “And vice versa. Do I want it or not?”
“Personally, I think I would, because I always have been and feel like I am.
“It’s not up to me. I don’t necessarily want to ask it because I don’t think it’s a fair question. If this ends and Max wins, that’s it. Congratulations to him. I’m looking forward to next year. Nothing would change.”
Piastri said he would not have an answer as to whether he would comply with such a request until teams were clear on what was “expected” for Sunday’s 58-lap grand prix.
“That’s not what we discussed,” he said.
“We don’t have an answer until we know what to expect.”
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Norris, Piastri and Verstappen reveal which moments during the season they think could cost them the world championship title
‘It’s the same as the last few weeks’ – Norris relaxed about dangerous title chance
Norris and Piastri will appear in F1’s first championship showdown, taking on the current four-time world champion, who won his first title the last time the race was decided at Abu Dhabi 2021.
Norris’ points lead makes him the favorite to win, and the 26-year-old said he entered the weekend feeling relaxed.
“I’ve never been in a situation like this before. I feel good so far. I don’t think about it at all until people ask,” he said.
“I go into the weekend without thinking about anything. Just playing golf and being with friends and looking forward to doing that on Monday, hungover or not!”
“I’m going to treat it the same way, the same as I’ve been doing for the last few weeks. I’m still comfortable and I feel good in the car.”
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On the Sky Sports F1 Show podcast, a panel discusses whether McLaren should implement team orders for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Piastri is very much an outsider in the three-way race for the title, having seen his once 34-point title lead evaporated and his chance to get back to winning ways in Qatar ruined by McLaren’s tactical error under the safety car.
But he’s hoping history repeats itself, given that the last two times, in 2010 and 2007, there were two or more drivers vying for the championship in the final round, and the driver who started third in the standings won.
“I feel relaxed,” Piastri said.
“I have been on the other side of the championship fight in the junior category and I understand how it feels, but it was pretty tough.
“So, coming into this game with the least losses of the three of us, it’s completely different for me. And after the Qatar game, I think I’m more confident that I can perform well.Obviously,
“Quite a few things have to happen this weekend to be champions, but we’ll make sure we’re in the right place at the right time and see what happens.”
Verstappen: “I had no intention of participating in the title fight until the end”
Verstappen also appeared relaxed, but underlined this in his response to a question about whether the parents of all three competitors were present this weekend.
“My parents are not here. My father is in Africa rallying,” Verstappen said.
“Yeah, I don’t think it was planned. I wasn’t going to be in the title fight until the end either. So, yeah, here I am.”
“I think after the Zandvoort game (when we fell to 104 points) everything came to a halt a little bit. My mother is happily living at home with the dogs. Yeah, I get to watch a lot on TV anyway.”
Live Abu Dhabi GP Schedule on Sky Sports F1
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Max Verstappen’s final title fight returns in 2021 against Lewis Hamilton, so relive one of the most incredible finishes in F1 history, when Verstappen passed Hamilton on the final lap to claim his first world title.
Friday, December 5th
7am: F2 practice
9:00am: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice 1 (Session starts at 9:30am)*
10:55am: F2 Qualifying*
11.40am: Team boss press conference*
12:45pm: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice 2 (Session starts at 1pm)*
2:15pm: F1 Show*
Saturday, December 6th
10:15am: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice 3 (Session starts at 11:30am)*
12:10pm: F2 Sprint*
1:15pm: Abu Dhabi GP qualifying build-up*
2pm: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying*
4pm: Ted’s Qualification Notes*
Sunday, December 7th
9:10am: F2 Feature Race
11am: Grand Prix Sunday: Abu Dhabi GP Build-up*
1pm: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix*
3pm: Checkered flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction*
4pm: Ted’s Notes
*Also held at Sky Sports Main Event
The 2025 F1 season concludes with the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
