McLaren Racing has declared it will not hesitate to issue team orders during the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix if it secures the Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship for the team.
Team Orders on the Table for Championship Glory
In a candid revelation, McLaren's Chief Executive Officer, Zak Brown, confirmed the team's strategic stance. He stated that should the situation demand it, they will instruct either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri to swap positions to maximise the chances of one beating Red Bull's Max Verstappen to the title.
Brown emphasised that both drivers start the final race with equal opportunities. However, the team is prepared to intervene later in the event if it becomes clear that only one of their drivers can mathematically win the championship.
Piastri Likely to Yield for Norris's Title Bid
The most probable scenario involves Oscar Piastri moving aside for his team-mate. Lando Norris takes a 16-point lead over Piastri and a 12-point advantage over reigning champion Verstappen into the decider at the Yas Marina Circuit.
When posed with a specific hypothetical situation by Daily Mail Sport—where Verstappen leads, Piastri runs third, and Norris fourth in the closing stages—Brown was unequivocal. He confirmed they would 'shuffle' their drivers to give Norris the required podium finish to clinch the title.
"We want to win the drivers' championship," Brown stated emphatically. "If the scenario develops in a way where we have to do something because one guy is not going to win, and one driver can help the other… well, we want to win the drivers' championship."
A Late-Race Decision to Secure the Crown
Brown clarified that any intervention would be a last-resort measure. The team plans to let the race unfold naturally until it is evident that one driver cannot win and the other can, with Verstappen's position being the critical factor.
"It would be at that late stage and up until then we would let the race play out," he explained. "You can have safety cars and reliability [issues] so it wouldn't be until it is clear one can win it and one can't. Then we would not cost ourselves the drivers' championship by not being in the right position relative to Max. We won't be stubborn. There is a lot at stake."
The final call rests with Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella, who Brown says are "so aligned" on racing philosophy that the decision is almost pre-ordained. Both Norris and Piastri have been informed of the team's championship-first approach for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.
