For the first time in 15 years, the Formula 1 world championship will be decided by a three-way fight on the final day of the season. As the grid heads to the Yas Marina Circuit for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Sky Sports F1 lead commentator David Croft has given his exclusive verdict on the title contenders.
Croft's Stubborn Stance: Backing the Underdog
Despite Lando Norris leading the standings and holding his destiny in his own hands, Croft remains steadfast in his support for the outsider of the trio, Oscar Piastri. The Australian driver topped the championship for much of the season but a difficult streak of results has left him third, four points behind Max Verstappen and 16 adrift of Norris.
"I'm still a very stubborn man. I'm not going to flip-flop around like my colleague Karun Chandhok," Croft told Mirror Sport, humorously suggesting his colleague has "more flip-flops than an Australian beach shop." He added, "Will Oscar do it? I'd like to think he can."
Croft outlined the complex scenarios, noting Piastri's chances depend on Norris finishing sixth or lower, even if the McLaren driver wins the race. He also quipped about the need for a clean race, stating, "As long as we don't get a repeat of Abu Dhabi 2021 - let's just follow the rules on this one."
The Contenders: Pressure, Pedigree, and a Five-Time Crown
Croft believes Norris, the championship favourite, must adopt a simple approach to handle the immense pressure. "Lando still needs to just keep calm, relax and know that a third place will be good enough for him," he explained, referencing the Briton's previous convincing win at the circuit.
For Max Verstappen, who was 104 points behind after the Dutch Grand Prix in August, a remarkable comeback has been powered by a potent Red Bull upgrade introduced at Monza in September. Croft is sceptical of Verstappen's claims that another title won't change his life, highlighting the historic significance. "There's a big difference between a four-time and a five-time world champion," Croft said. "To win them consecutively, he'll go up there with Fangio, with Schumacher, with Hamilton."
Despite Piastri's recent struggles, Croft sees a future champion. "I've seen in Oscar a world champion in the making," he affirmed, praising the 24-year-old's ability to absorb information and his growing maturity. He acknowledged that Piastri needs to iron out issues on low-grip tracks but emphasised, "It is only his third season in F1 and he's still learning."
The Ultimate Winner: A 'Great Story' for Formula 1
Ultimately, Croft believes that regardless of which driver lifts the trophy, the sport itself emerges victorious from such a thrilling climax. "The beauty for me for this final race is that whatever the outcome, it's a great story," he declared.
He painted the three possible narratives: Verstappen completing an against-the-odds charge to a fifth crown, Piastri overcoming adversity to claim a first title, or Norris fulfilling his long journey with McLaren to become the sport's 35th different world champion.
"So it's a coming-of-age story, or it's a high-five story - but it's a great story," Croft concluded. "I just love the way that Formula 1 throws these stories up year after year after year." The stage is now set for a dramatic conclusion under the Abu Dhabi lights.
