Norris ‘not going to ask’ Piastri for title help

Lando Norris claims there is no way for him to ask teammate Oscar Piastri to let him pass in order for him to claim the drivers’ championship.

Prior to the season finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend, Norris, 26, leads Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 12 points and Piastri by 16 points.

With 25 points available for a race win and 18 for second place, all three are in contention for the title.

The Briton must place fourth in Verstappen’s podium to be certain of winning his first F1 championship, but he would lose out if he won’t, for example, finish in fourth place in the race at Yas Marina.

Verstappen and Piastri could ask McLaren to let Norris overtake if Piastri was running higher than them in second or third place.

When asked about potential team orders, Norris responded, “It’s not really up to me and I’m not going to ask it.”

Because I don’t believe it to be a fair question, I don’t want to ask it.

Given that the 24-year-old needs to win on Sunday and that Norris must finish sixth or lower, Piastri is now the outsider.

Piastri, who was back in form in Qatar and should have won the race, said that because of a poor strategy call from McLaren, “it’s not something we have discussed.”

I don’t really have an answer until I know what’s kind of expected.

Norris claimed that he would be willing to let his team-mate go if the roles were reversed and Piastri sought assistance in the decider.

I believe I would, simply because I believe I always feel that way. He said, “That’s exactly how I am.”

After retiring at the end of August, Norris was 34 points adrift of Piastri. However, victories in Monza, Singapore, and Austin, as well as back-to-back victories in Mexico and Brazil, helped him regain control of the championship heading into the final few races.

He hopes to become the 11th British Formula One driver to win the title.

After finishing second at his home grand prix in the Netherlands, the Dutchman was 104 points clear of Piastri, but he has since won five races, most recently in Doha, in the absence of the second-place finish.

Verstappen’s best chance to win in Abu Dhabi and Norris’ place-finishing would be his best chance to triumph.

Verstappen, who has won five consecutive drivers’ titles, will be in the title fight if he wins the title in Abu Dhabi, joked Verstappen, who had anticipated being in the fight.

“Everything was canceled after Zandvoort,” said one user. In Africa, my dad is demonstrating. The dogs make my mother happy.

“Of course, they always support me, and my mother always lights a candle before each race weekend. But I suppose they have faith in their son.

If Verstappen wins over him and Piastri, Norris said, “We look forward to the following year.”