Lando Norris has denied asking McLaren to offer him a positive group order forward of Sunday’s Abu Dhabi title decider, insisting he has no intention of asking teammate Oscar Piastri for assist.
Norris holds a 12-point lead over Max Verstappen within the F1 Drivers’ Championship heading into this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Even when Verstappen wins, a top-three end on Sunday will give Norris the title.
There are specific situations during which Norris would want Piastri’s assist.
Piastri is 16 factors behind Norris, which means the Australian should win the race to have an opportunity of turning into champion.
Norris would additionally want to complete sixth or worse for that state of affairs to materialize.
Realistically, Piastri is an outsider, however he might nonetheless play a key function on Sunday.
If Verstappen leads the race, Piastri third and Norris fourth, the Pink Bull driver will win the championship.
Nonetheless, it’s potential that McLaren will step in to make sure Norris wins.
Can Piastri assist Norris?
Mercedes’ George Russell believes it’s unfair for McLaren to make use of group orders within the title last.
Russell feels each drivers must be given an equal alternative – and if McLaren loses each to Verstappen, it is a race.
McLaren bosses insist they don’t use group orders.
However that might change within the unlikely state of affairs of Verstappen profitable on Sunday however Norris lacking out on the rostrum.
Requested at Thursday’s FIA press convention in Abu Dhabi whether or not he would ask Piastri for assist, Norris replied: “No, it hasn’t been mentioned. To be sincere, I would love it, however I do not assume I’d ask for it…I do not know. It is as much as Oscar to permit it.”
“I do not assume it is essentially my fault. And vice versa. Am I going to do it or not?”
“Personally, I believe I’d, as a result of I believe that is what I’ve at all times been and that is who I’m. It is less than me. I am not going to ask that. I do not wish to ask it. I do not assume it is essentially a good query. I am not going to ask that.
“On the identical time, if it ends like that and Max wins, that is it. Congratulations to him and searching ahead to subsequent yr. It will not change something. My life will not change both. He deserves it greater than any of us.”
Piastri dodged the query, suggesting the group wanted to debate it first.
“That is not what we mentioned,” he added. “Till you recognize what is anticipated of you, you will not actually know the reply.”
