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McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in action. (PHOTO: AP)
McLaren’s leading driver Lando Norris is just one podium finish away from becoming a Formula 1 world champion as the 2025 season heads into its final race in Abu Dhabi. Norris will clinch the title on Sunday if he finishes on the podium, regardless of where his teammate Oscar Piastri or Red Bull’s Max Verstappen — his two closest rivals in the championship — finish.
However, one scenario could see Verstappen defend his crown and win a fifth consecutive title: if he wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix while Piastri finishes third and Norris fourth. Conversely, if the McLaren drivers were to swap positions in that same situation, with Norris third and Piastri fourth, they could deny Verstappen the championship, and Norris would become world champion.
Norris has 408 points and leads Verstappen (396) by 12 points and teammate Piastri (392) by 16 points.
In Thursday’s press conference ahead of the decisive race weekend, Norris was asked about that hypothetical situation and the wider topic of team orders.
“It hasn’t been discussed. Honestly, I would love it!,” Norris said. “But I don’t think I would ask because… I don’t know. It’s up to Oscar if he would allow it. It’s not necessarily down to me. It’s the same if it was the other way around. Would I be willing or not? Personally, I think I would, because I feel like I’m always like that… that’s how I am.”
Norris added that he doesn’t want to pose the question, calling it unfair.
“It’s not really up to me. I don’t want to ask because I don’t think it’s necessarily a fair question. If that’s how it ends and Max wins, then that’s it. Congrats to him and we look forward to next year. It doesn’t change anything.”
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Piastri said he would only know whether he would comply with such a request once the team made clear what would be “expected” of him in Sunday’s 58-lap Grand Prix.
“It’s not something we have discussed. I don’t have an answer until I know what’s expected,” the Australian said.
Piastri, who led the championship for much of the season, now sits third in the standings, his title chances having faded significantly.
“I’m relaxed,” Piastri stated. “I’ve been on the opposite side of a championship battle in the junior categories, and I know how tough that felt. So coming into this with the least to lose out of us three is quite different for me. Off the back of Qatar, I’ve got a lot of confidence that I can perform well. Obviously, I need a fair few things to happen this weekend to come out champion, but I’ll just make sure I’m in the right place at the right time and see what happens.”
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