F1 expert Cameron Van Den Dungan has suggested Lando Norris delivered a subtle ‘message’ to McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in a press conference ahead of the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. Norris leads Max Verstappen and Piastri heading into the final race of the season, but all three drivers have an opportunity to win the title. It’s the first three-way title decider in F1 since 2010, when Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel took out the season-ending race.
There has been speculation heading into the final race on whether McLaren could ask Piastri to support Norris if Verstappen threatens to take the title. The only way Piastri can win the title is if he wins the race and Norris finishes sixth or lower.
Lando Norris (pictured far left) has raised eyebrows after discussing different scenarios occurring alongside McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri (pictured right) heading into the final race of the season. (Images: Getty Images)
Norris has an extremely fast car at the moment and only a major disaster on race day would see him finish that low. This means Norris’ biggest challenger is most likely Verstappen.
If the Red Bull driver wins and Piastri doesn’t podium than he will take the world championship. This has led to suggestions McLaren could ask Piastri, if he appears out of title contention during the race, to support Norris.
And Norris raised eyebrows when he talked about what he would do if the roles were reversed heading into the weekend. “It’s not been discussed, honestly, I would love it…it’s up to Oscar if he’d allow it, I don’t think it’s necessarily down to me,” Norris said to reporters ahead of Abu Dhabi.
“It’s the same if it was the other way around, would I be willing to or not? Personally I think I would just because I feel like I’m always like that and that’s just how I am.
“But it’s not really up to me. I’m not going to ask it, I don’t want to ask it, 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, look forward to next year, doesn’t change anything, doesn’t change my life, he’ll deserve it over us.”
However, Norris’ comments have been taken apart with F1 expert Van Den Dungan suggesting it was a subtle message to his teammate ahead of the big race. And he thinks Piastri will oblige with team orders if it comes down to it.
“That little opening quote from Lando was telling. I think he was sending a message to Oscar saying, ‘You better do the team thing,'” Dungan said on SEN Radio. “Ultimately it comes down to the crunch, I don’t see them defying team orders. I think Oscar, the sort of person he is, he won’t like it but he will do the job.
“He has done it before,” he added. “I think when push comes to shove, the scenario talked a lot by people, if he is running second or third and Lando is fourth. And Max is winning the race, he will pull over.”
George Russell backs even race for F1 title
While there is debate over how the scenario would play out, Mercedes driver George Russell has claimed Piastri should not be asked to do such a thing. “I don’t think it’s acceptable or reasonable to ask a driver who also has a shot of the championship in the very last race to move over for your team-mate,” Russell said.
Oscar Piastri (pictured) still has a chance of winning the F1 titke at Abu Dhabi.
McLaren boss talks team strategy for F1 season finale
Speculation continues over McLaren’s Andrea Stella insists McLaren will give both of their drivers the opportunity to race for the world championship in the season-ending race. “When it comes to the fact that we have two drivers in the quest for the world championship, our philosophy and our approach will not change,” the McLaren team principal told F1 media.
“We will leave both Oscar and Lando the possibility to compete and pursue their aspirations. Oscar, from a points point of view, is definitely in condition to win the title.” But Stella has hinted that things could change depending on how things pan out with Verstappen in the final race of the season. I think whatever call we make in terms of using the collaboration of our drivers, we will have to follow some of our fundamental principles, which are foundational to our approach,” he added.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – 2025/12/04: McLaren Formula 1 Team’s drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri before the press conference of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025. (Photo by Luca Martini/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)