Lando Norris revealed that he would be hesitant to ask McLaren to grant a team order to Oscar Piastri to help him win the Formula 1 title in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Norris goes into the decisive race with a 16-point lead over Piastri, with Max Verstappen sandwiched in between the two McLaren drivers, 12 points behind the Briton.
But despite the external threat to Norris now being greater than the internal one, McLaren boss Andrea Stella has denied that Piastri will be resigned to a support role.
Stella did suggest that the team would be open to reviewing that stance during the race, though, should Norris require his team-mate’s assistance to beat Verstappen.
But should that circumstance arise, Norris, who can seal a maiden championship with a podium, has insisted it would be up to McLaren to impose an order on Piastri.
“No, [it’s] not been discussed,” Norris told media including Motorsport Week at the Yas Marina Circuit. “Honestly, I mean, I would love it. But I don’t think I would ask it.
“It’s up to Oscar if he would allow it. I don’t think it’s necessarily down to me.
“It’s the same if it’s the other way around. Would I be willing to or not? Personally, I think I would, because I feel like I’m always like that and that’s how I am.
“It’s not really up to me. I’m not going to ask it. I don’t want to ask it because I don’t think it’s necessarily a fair question.
“At the same time, if that’s how it ends and Max wins, then well, that’s it. Congrats to him and I look forward to next year.
“It doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t change my life. He will deserve it over us.”
Norris in positives spirits heading into title showdown
Despite missing the chance to wrap up the title at the previous round in Qatar, Norris expressed that he has remained in positive spirits in the lead-up to this weekend.
“I’ve obviously not been in this situation before. But at the minute, I feel good,” he said.
“I really don’t think of it at all until you guys ask it all the time. So I’m trying to avoid you guys as much as possible.
“But that’s also part of the job. So it’s nothing new. It’s nothing that shocks me or whatever.
“I’ve come into the weekend not thinking of it for the last three days, just playing some golf and being with my mates and having a good time.
“And I look forward to doing that on Monday. Whether I’m hungover or not.
“So, yeah, really it’s pretty the same. And I think I’ll be the same on track as how I’ve been the last few weeks.
“As much as there’s still been pressure the last few weeks, I’ve still felt comfortable and I still feel good in the car. So, yeah, all good.”
Norris vows last-race heartbreak wouldn’t break him
And while he’s accepted that he is in the most precarious position among the three contenders, Norris has vowed that missing out at the last race wouldn’t break him.
“I guess in terms of position, of course, I have the most to lose because I am the one at the top,” he recognised. “I’ll do my best to stay there until the end of the year.
“Same time, if it doesn’t go my way, then I’ll try again next year. It will hurt probably for a little while, but then that’s life. I’ll crack on and try and do better next season.
“I also feel like the mentality of I have nothing to lose because it’s just a race for a championship. In 30 years’ time, I probably won’t think of it that much either way.
“I’m not too bothered in terms of I’ll do my best I can. If it happens, great. If it doesn’t, then I’ll try again next year.”
READ MORE – Carlos Sainz warns Oscar Piastri & Max Verstappen that F1 Abu Dhabi GP is a ‘Lando track’
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