F1 World Championship leader Lando Norris has stated he will not ask McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri to step aside to gift him the title through team orders
Lando Norris has stated that he will not ask McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri to step aside and gift him the Formula One world title.
The Brit leads the championship heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi and is favourite to land his maiden F1 title. However, Norris has Piastri and Max Verstappen both breathing down his neck, ready to snatch the title away if he slips up.
Norris holds a 12-point advantage over the Red Bull four-time world champion, and a further four points ahead of his Australian team-mate. With Piastri third in the standings, the 24-year-old needs a lot to play into his hands for him to be champion.
That could leave McLaren in an awkward position to prioritise Norris over Piastri if circumstances in the race play out to see Verstappen claim a fifth consecutive title.
A hypothetical situation where Verstappen leads the race, with Piastri in third and Norris in fourth would mean that McLaren miss out on the drivers’ title that they have looked certain to win since the opening race of the season.
McLaren have insisted that they will not play favourites with either driver, and Norris has not put pressure on the team or his team-mate to consider a scenario where Piastri must step aside so he can win the Championship.
Speaking during the drivers’ press conference ahead of the final weekend of the season, Norris said: “I don’t think I would ask it because… I don’t know… it’s up to Oscar if he would allow it. I don’t think it’s necessarily down to me.
“It’s the same if it’s 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.”
Norris further elaborated: “I’m not going to ask it, I don’t want to ask it because I don’t think it’s necessarily a fair question.
“At the same time if that’s how it ends and Max wins, then well. That’s it. Congrats to him and look forward to next year. It doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t change my life. He will deserve it over us.”
Piastri confirmed the position on team orders and insisted that he would not want Norris to move aside if it meant he would be champion.
“I think it would be unfair for either driver to give (up) places,” Piastri said. “If Max wins, he deserves to win. I wouldn’t want to win a championship because my teammate has pulled over, especially if he’s been my rival that year.”