Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
McLaren are just days away from possibly winning their first drivers’ title since 2008, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both still in with a chance heading to Abu Dhabi.
The Woking outfit have not won the F1 drivers’ championship since Lewis Hamilton lifted his first title while still racing for McLaren 17 years ago. Norris and Piastri can both still end their team’s drought this term, with 16 points between them with 25 points now left on the table.
Norris leads the standings heading into Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with 408 points from the first 23/24 rounds. Red Bull racer Max Verstappen is the Briton’s nearest threat, with the four-time defending champion sitting with 396 points in his account to edge Piastri with 392.
Piastri needs the most luck to win the title, as he cannot afford for Norris to finish inside the top five even if the Australian were to win the Abu Dhabi GP. Verstappen would take the title if he wins at Yas Marina and Norris fails to finish on the podium, regardless of Piastri’s result.
Oscar Piastri could create a ‘massive wedge’ at McLaren by refusing team orders to help Lando Norris
So, the possibility of McLaren enforcing team orders on Piastri to help Norris win the drivers’ title in the Abu Dhabi GP is on the cards. If Verstappen is leading the race, the papaya squad may have to consider asking Piastri to let Norris through if he is outside the top three places.
READ MORE: All you need to know about the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, including past winners
Who do you think will clinch the 2025 title this weekend?
McLaren have so far refused to issue clear team orders during the 2025 F1 season, except at Monza owing to their own creation. McLaren told Piastri to give Norris back P2 in the Italian Grand Prix, having told the latter he would not get undercut if he let his teammate pit first.
Jolyon Palmer believes Piastri would find it impossible to say no if McLaren were to ask him to help Norris win the drivers’ title in the 2025 season-closing Abu Dhabi GP. He is sure that there is no upside in refusing, as Piastri would risk creating a “massive wedge” at McLaren.
Palmer told the F1 website: “The potential safety net in all of it is the prospect of McLaren team orders, if Max is the threat. If Norris was really in trouble and running in P4, with Max leading and Oscar ahead, would Oscar give up position to help his teammate win the title?
“In a force majeure situation that would be a massive decision. But it’s tough to see how the team wouldn’t ask Oscar to do it, or how Oscar could defy those team orders, as difficult as they would be to swallow.
“After all, if Oscar helps his teammate win the title this year, there could be payback at some point. If he doesn’t, then he stands to put a massive wedge down the middle of McLaren into next year, and gain very little.”
Ralf Schumacher warns McLaren that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will crash without team orders
Ralf Schumacher also claims McLaren will need to consider imposing team orders in the Abu Dhabi GP to ensure that Norris or Piastri will leave Yas Marina as an F1 drivers’ champion for the first time. He even feels McLaren would be wise to pick their No1 driver after qualifying.
READ MORE: F1 experts predict the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP and if Lando Norris will win the title
Do you think this is the right decision from McLaren or should they prioritise Norris this weekend?
The former Toyota F1 driver is “almost afraid” that Norris and Piastri will crash if McLaren do not name their favourite candidate for the 2025 title. He suggests McLaren would almost be gifting Verstappen the title by continuing to give the Briton and Australian free rein to fight.
Schumacher told Sky Germany: “If McLaren do not manage to finally issue clear team orders in the last race, preferably after qualifying, then I’m almost afraid that the two cars will somehow collide on the track, and Max will still become world champion because both McLarens will retire.”
McLaren’s mistakes in recent weeks have let Verstappen head to Abu Dhabi within 12 points of Norris and four points clear of Piastri. Norris and Piastri’s double disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix prevented them from leaving Sin City leading him by 42 and 12 points.
And, to make matters worse for Norris and Piastri, McLaren’s bungled strategy in the Qatar Grand Prix by refusing to pit under the Lap 7 safety car unlike the rest of the field gave glory in Lusail to Verstappen. Piastri looked set to score his first win since August before the error.
Receive exclusive F1 news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
