Norris says he would help Piastri win the title at the end of F1 2025 in Yas Marina at the Abu Dhabi GP

Lando Norris, McLaren driver, arrives at Grande Prêmio of Abu Dhabi as leader of Mundial of Pilotos of The Brit’s statement this Thursday, during a press conference at Circuito of Yas Marina, highlighted his willingness to give up position to the Australian if the title chances are reversed in Sunday’s race. Essa position reflects the internal balance in the team, which has already secured the constructors’ championship.

The race marks the first three-driver decision in title math since 2010, when Sebastian Vettel outperformed the competition. Norris only needs a podium to secure his first world trophy, while Verstappen is looking for his fifth consecutive victory. Piastri, in a tighter situation, depends on victories combined with stumbles from rivals.

The weekend in Abu Dhabi begins with free practice this Friday, starting at 1 pm local time (8 am on The start of the decisive race takes place on Sunday at 5pm local time, broadcast live to a global audience.

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McLaren’s strategies in the Yas Marina

The McLaren team faces tactical dilemmas in Circuito of Yas Marina, where the layout favors overtaking and aggressive strategies. Norris and Piastri, both with seven wins this season, share the same dominant car, but decisions such as pit stops and tire management can define the title.

In 2024, Norris won the race from start to finish after a collision between rivals at the start, demonstrating the track’s potential for comebacks. Este year, with the constructors title already in hand since Singapura, the pressure falls on Mundial from Pilotos.

• Main challenges: Gerenciamento of safety cars and traffic in the final phase of the race.
• Historical advantages: McLaren has won pole positions in the last four visits to the circuit.
• Climatic factors: Temperaturas above 25°C locally can affect the wear of medium and hard tires.

Paths to the title for each driver

Norris controls his destiny with simplicity: a top 3 finish guarantees the championship, regardless of his rivals. Qualquer position below fourth requires that Verstappen does not win, thanks to the tiebreaker criterion based on the number of second places, where the Briton leads with eight.

Verstappen, winner of four of the last five editions in Abu Dhabi, needs a victory and Norris in fourth or worse. Caso finishes second, the Dutchman demands that the McLaren leader stays out of the top 7. Sua relaxed approach, declared this Thursday, contrasts with the internal tension of the rival.

Piastri faces the most complex scenario, needing a victory or second place, combined with Norris outside the top 6 and Verstappen below fourth. The Australian, with an opening hat-trick of Bahrain, Arábia Saudita and Miami, has avoided discussions about team orders for now.

History of triple decisions in F1

Fórmula 1 records 12 finals with more than two drivers in play, and on those occasions, second-placed or third-placed drivers prevailed in seven cases. In 2010, Vettel, third in the table, lifted the trophy without ever having led before, overtaking Alonso and Webber on the last lap in Abu Dhabi.

Other milestones include 1986, with Prost and Mansell tied, and Piquet in third, resolved by mechanical failure by the Brit. In 1976, Hunt beat Hunt by one point after a court appeal. Esses episodes highlight how unforeseen events, such as safety cars or collisions, alter trajectories.

Statements by the protagonists in Yas Marina

Norris emphasized his collaborative personality at the press conference, stating that he would give up space to Piastri without hesitation, but without imposing demands. “It would be the same if the roles were reversed”, commented the Englishman, who leads in pole positions tied with Verstappen, both with seven.

Verstappen, considered “relaxed” with nothing to lose, focused on pure performance. The Dutchman, with a margin of 7.995 seconds over Piastri in Qatar, sees the race as an opportunity for a comeback, similar to his victories in Lusail.

Piastri, still processing McLaren’s strategic error in the Qatar GP, where they lost the victory to Verstappen, opted for caution. “We haven’t discussed specific plans at this point,” said the Australian, who has converted four of six pole positions into victories this season.

Season performance in numbers

The three contenders rack up impressive statistics in 2025, with McLaren dominating 14 of the 23 races. Norris has eight podiums in addition to his victories, while Piastri shines in fast laps, with 12 records. Verstappen, with six second places, balances consistency and aggressiveness.

The Yas Marina track, with 5.281 km and 55 laps, awards qualification, where McLaren took the last four poles. Dados telemetry indicates that soft tires degrade in 15 laps under strong sun, forcing double stops in aggressive scenarios.

Preparation for the decisive weekend

Teams adjust setups for the high-speed curves of Yas Marina, prioritizing downforce and traction on corner exits. The Red Bull, with

Free training will reveal strengths: FP1 and FP2 on Friday, from 1pm to 2:30pm and 5pm to 6:30pm local time. The decisive classification on Saturday defines the grid, crucial for a clean start between the three.

McLaren team outlook

Andrea Stella, McLaren boss, reinforced the freedom for drivers to race, avoiding rigid “papaya rules” that could compromise the title. The failed strategy in Qatar, as they did not pit under a safety car, costing a potential 28 points, but strengthened internal cohesion.

With the constructors’ trophy secured, the focus turns to the individual. Stella praised Piastri for his “understandable” post-Qatar frustration, but sees the Australian motivated for the final hat-trick.