Bold take: the Abu Dhabi showdown will decide not just a race, but a season-defining moment for McLaren, and the team’s approach could shape the sport’s ethics for years to come. As the finale of the 2025 Formula 1 season inches closer in Abu Dhabi, all attention is on the McLaren pit wall. Lando Norris holds a narrow 12-point gap over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and leads teammate Oscar Piastri by 16 points. With the title still in play, fans wonder whether McLaren will instruct Piastri to yield p roceedings to help Norris clinch the championship. The question seems settled in principle, though, as Piastri remains in contention for a strong finish, possibly second or third overall, while Verstappen stands as the formidable threat, needing a race win and Norris to fall to fourth or lower to claim a fifth consecutive title.
Team principal Andrea Stella has laid out the stance clearly before the Abu Dhabi finale. He told F1 media that two drivers chasing the World Championship won’t change McLaren’s philosophy: both Oscar and Lando will have the chance to race for the title. He emphasized that Oscar, from a points perspective, is indeed in a position to win, though the team’s plans could adapt mid-race depending on how events unfold and whether Norris requires assistance, provided Piastri remains in title contention.
Stella underlined the team’s core values: fair treatment, racing with integrity, and a setup that doesn’t surprise the drivers. He stated that between now and Abu Dhabi there will be further discussions with Norris and Piastri to confirm the racing approach. If either driver is in a legitimate position to chase the title, the team will honor that pursuit and ensure any collaboration does not exclude a driver who can still win.
In short, the plan is not fixed in stone; there will be communications and a unified racing strategy that keeps the team and drivers aligned, as has always been the case. This situation marks the third time in Formula 1 history that three drivers head into the final race with a shot at the title. The previous two instances saw the driver in third place emerge victorious: in 2007, Kimi Räikkönen overtook Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, and in 2010, Sebastian Vettel did the same against Alonso and Mark Webber.
When does the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix start? The final race kicks off at midnight on Monday, December 8 (AEDT), with coverage continuing from lights out to the checkered flag on Kayo Sports.
So, can Oscar pull off a victory? He faces a steep climb: to win the title, he must win the race while Norris ends sixth or lower. If he finishes second, Norris must place ninth or worse, and Verstappen would need to finish fourth or lower. Verstappen’s own path mirrors this logic: win the race with Norris fourth or better to secure five straight titles. For Norris, the route is straightforward—stand on the podium, and the 2025 Formula 1 championship is his.
