Lando Norris admits he would “love it” if McLaren team orders with Oscar Piastri rescued a championship victory for him in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in a scenario where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was otherwise headed for the title.
But the championship leader said “I don’t want to ask” the team for them, while both Norris and Piastri also insisted that McLaren had not discussed the possibility of such tactics with them.
Championship contenders Norris, Piastri and Verstappen sat alongside each other in Thursday’s pre-event press conference in Abu Dhabi ahead of Formula 1’s first final-race decider since 2021, and the first featuring more than two drivers in 15 years.
With Norris leading Verstappen by 12 points and Piastri by 16 points, the Briton only needs a podium finish on Sunday to become world champion for the first time even if his rivals are first and second.
However, one scenario widely debated in the build-up to the event is what McLaren – and their title-chasing drivers – would do late in the race in the event that Verstappen was winning, Piastri was third and Norris fourth.
In that situation Verstappen would be set to take the title, however a switch in the order of McLaren cars would see Norris claim the crown by two points instead.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Craig Slater explains what Max Verstappen, Piastri and Norris all need to do in order to clinch the title in Abu Dhabi
When that scenario and the wider topic of team orders were put to the McLaren team-mates in the press conference, Norris said: “It hasn’t been discussed. Honestly, I would love it!
“But I don’t think I would ask it because.. I don’t know. I don’t know.
“It’s up to Oscar if he would allow it. I don’t think it’s necessarily down to me.”
Norris added: “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 and that’s how I am.
“It’s not really up to me. I don’t want to ask it 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.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Norris, Piastri and Verstappen reveal what moments in the season they think could cost them the World Championship title
Piastri said he would only have an answer to whether he would comply to such a request once the team had made clear to him what would be “expected” in Sunday’s 58-lap Grand Prix.
“It’s not something we have discussed,” he said.
“I don’t have an answer until I know what’s expected.”
More to follow…
The 2025 F1 season concludes with the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime