Norris won't ask Piastri to move over in F1 title decider
Norris won't ask Piastri to move over in F1 title decider
Norris says he won't press Piastri to let him pass in the three-way title fight at Abu Dhabi, as Verstappen closes in.
Lando Norris says he won't ask his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to give up a place to favour him in the three-way Formula 1 title fight with Max Verstappen at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Norris has a 12-point lead over Verstappen going into Sunday's race, with Piastri four points further back. He stressed the decision isn't up to him and he wouldn’t push for it, even if the roles were reversed.
Piastri kept his stance practical, saying it’s not something they’ve discussed and he doesn’t have an answer until he knows what’s expected of him. The dynamic within the team will be watched closely as the title picture tightens.
Verstappen has said his aim is simply to maximize the result, and he acknowledged that in these circumstances he isn’t sure what position matters most in the final standings. A Verstappen win would put Norris in a position where a top-three finish would be enough to secure the title.
Norris did have a chance to seal the title at Qatar, but a pit-stop blunder handed Verstappen the win and boosted his chances of defending the crown. The Abu Dhabi finale will be a test of strategy, trust and nerve for the trio as they race toward the season’s conclusion.
Cover image source: Norris faces nerve-shredding three-way scrap to claim maiden title 🔗
