The simmering tension over team orders has hit the Formula 1 paddock ahead of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Australian star Oscar Piastri deftly avoiding the question of whether he would help teammate Lando Norris win the world championship.
The Championship Equation
Heading into the final race, the title fight remains wide open. Lando Norris leads the standings by 12 points from reigning champion Max Verstappen and by 16 points from his own McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri. This rare scenario, with three drivers from two teams mathematically in contention, sets the stage for a dramatic and potentially controversial finale.
When pressed on his stance regarding team orders during Thursday's pre-race media sessions, Piastri offered a diplomatic but non-committal response. The Melbourne-born driver shrugged off the intense speculation, stating, “It’s not something we’ve discussed — I don’t really have an answer until I know what’s expected of me.”
Teammate Dynamics and External Opinions
Norris had earlier set a collegial tone, suggesting he would be willing to assist Piastri if their positions were reversed. However, when faced with a direct hypothetical—such as being fourth in the race with Verstappen leading and Piastri in third—Norris admitted he would be reluctant to explicitly ask for help.
“I don’t think I would ask it,” Norris said, appearing somewhat uncomfortable with the two title rivals sitting beside him. “It’s up to Oscar if he would allow it... I don’t think it’s necessarily a fair question.” He concluded that if Verstappen ultimately won, he would deserve it, and it would not change his life.
The debate has drawn strong opinions from other drivers. Mercedes' George Russell was adamant, calling it “unfair” to request Piastri sacrifice his own slim title chances. “I don’t think it’s acceptable or reasonable to ask a driver who’s also in a shot of a championship in the very last race to move over for your teammate,” Russell stated. His tongue-in-cheek advice to Piastri was to simply unplug his car radio.
Team Strategy and Driver Mindset
Despite the drivers' public comments, the pressure on McLaren's management is immense. Team principal Andrea Stella emphasised after the Qatar Grand Prix that the priority was ensuring “we are in condition to beat Verstappen with one of our two drivers.” Although Stella indicated conversations would be held this week, both Piastri and Norris confirmed no such discussions had taken place yet.
Piastri, who arrives in Abu Dhabi buoyed by a strong performance in Qatar, appears relaxed about his outsider status. “Obviously, I need a fair few things to happen this weekend to come out champion,” he smiled. “I’ll just make sure I’m in the right place at the right time and see what happens.”
Norris, meanwhile, conceded he feels he has the most to lose of the three contenders. The stage is now set for a high-stakes Sunday where racing ethics, team loyalty, and individual glory will collide on the Yas Marina circuit.
