Ralf Schumacher tells Oscar Piastri he has to ‘drive for Norris’ from the start in Abu Dhabi

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The grid for the title showdown in Abu Dhabi is set, and Ralf Schumacher has told Oscar Piastri what he must do in order for Lando Norris to secure the world championship for himself.

Max Verstappen will start the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from pole position, with Lando Norris in second and Oscar Piastri behind his McLaren counterpart in third.

Norris just needs a podium finish from the final round of the season to guarantee that he walks away from the Yas Marina circuit as a world champion.

With all three championship protagonists in range of each other during the opening melee down into turn one, it’s impossible to call who will emerge out of the first corner as the leading man of the race.

• READ MORE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race and qualifying times and how to watch 2025 Formula 1 title decider

Verstappen’s pole position won’t be enough for the title if Norris remains behind him. How do you think the trio will finish?

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Ralf Schumacher details what Oscar Piastri must do at the start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

After the chequered flag fell on the final qualifying session of the season, Sky Sports Germany pundit Ralf Schumacher issued a verdict on what he feels Piastri should do in order to ensure that the drivers’ championship heads to Woking.

The former F1 driver said (06/12 15:24), “If the two McLarens were at the front, they would normally do their own thing. Piastri could have covered Norris, and he would have pulled away. But now things are different.

“You never know what will happen in turn one. One small mistake at the start, and anything can happen. And Lando was always a bit nervous at the start; Piastri now has to drive for Norris.

“If they fight internally and Russell and Leclerc get ahead of Norris, then McLaren would lose the championship, and that’s unacceptable.

“Piastri has to cover Norris at the start and also be careful during the pit stops, and if necessary, hold back Russell and Leclerc. McLaren has to be able to run their own strategy when Norris is behind them.”

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has asserted that team orders will be used during Sunday’s Grand Prix if it’s necessary for them to swap Norris and Piastri around to guarantee a McLaren world champion.

If it comes to it, F1 fans certainly won’t be happy. Norris received boos in Sao Paulo and Mexico City after his victories there, which stemmed from the use of team orders at the Italian GP earlier in the year.

• READ MORE: McLaren haven’t revealed one crucial detail about Oscar Piastri team orders, it could help Red Bull

Ralf Schumacher thinks Oscar Piastri is secretly hoping for Max Verstappen to seal the 2025 F1 title

With Piastri still in the hunt for the championship, it raises the question of whether he actually will abide by team orders if it comes to it during the Grand Prix.

The Australian is 16 points behind Norris in the F1 standings, meaning that a race win for him and a low-points scoring position for the Brit is what he needs to secure the title.

If Norris does secure the title, he will surely be considered the number one driver at McLaren in the future, and Schumacher believes that Piastri will be distraught at the idea.

There’s no guarantee that McLaren will be developing a car worthy of a title fight next year, which could prove to be a tough position for Piastri to be in if he ends up being the driver without a title to his name.

The Yas Marina circuit has dialled up some thrilling season finales in the past, so it’s far too tough to call which driver will etch their name in history come the chequered flag on Sunday.