Is McLaren choosing between Norris and Piastri in the title fight? The pilots shouted: “To be honest…”
Article by Daniel Grigore – Published on Thursday, 04 December 2025, 15:18 / Updated on Thursday, 04 December 2025 15:22
At the press conference ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix, the final race of the season, McLaren insists the team's two drivers, both title contenders, will be free to challenge for the top position.
We enter the last race of this season with three drivers with a shot at the title. The big favorite is Lando Norris, who leads the ranking with 408 points. The second place holder, Max Verstappen, has 396. The third, Oscar Piastri, 392.
For Norris, the calculations are simple: if he finishes on the podium, he will become champion for the first time, no matter what results Verstappen and Piastri record.
Even though the Briton is in a better position to be crowned champion, McLaren management insist they will not choose between drivers, at least not as long as Piastri is on the cards.
At today's press conference, December 4, Norris and Piastri reinforced the idea. The Brit claimed there was no question of McLaren ordering Piastri to help him, thus sacrificing his own title chances.
However, he stated that he would accept such team orders if the roles were reversed.
Lando Norris: “Team order? I didn't ask for that, but I'd take it for the Piastres”
“No, we didn't talk about that. To be honest, I'd love to, but I wouldn't ask for something like that. It's up to Oscar if he accepts, not necessarily up to me.
Likewise and vice versa. Personally, I think I would accept [ordinele echipei]because that's just how I am. But it is not up to me and I will not ask for such a thing.
I don't want to ask for something like that because I don't think it's necessarily right. If Max wins, well, that's it – Congratulations to him and see you next year. It wouldn't change anything, it wouldn't change my life. He deserves to win more than us,” said Norris, quoted by autosport.com.
Oscar Piastri also commented on the same idea:
“It's not something we've discussed. I don't know how to respond until I know what's expected of me.
After what happened in Qatar, I'm very confident that I can do great. Obviously, I need a lot of things to happen to be the champion, but I'll make sure I'm in the right place at the right time and we'll see what happens.”
Driver standings ahead of the final race in 2025
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 408 points
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 396
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 392
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 309
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 230
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 152
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 150
- Alexander Albon (Williams) – 73
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 64
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 51
- Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber) – 49
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 48
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 41
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 38
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 33
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 32
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 32
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 22
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) – 19
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – Zero
- Jack Doohan (Alpine) – nil
