Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri address potential use of McLaren team orders

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have addressed the possibility of McLaren imposing team orders on Piastri during the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

Heading into the final race, Norris leads the standings on 408 points with Max Verstappen on 396 in second place and Piastri in third on 392.

Should Verstappen win the race, then Norris must finish on the podium to secure his maiden world title, but a scenario exists whereby Piastri could be called upon to hand Norris the title.

If Piastri is running in second or third in the closing stages to Verstappen, with Norris in fourth, him allowing the Briton to pass for a podium spot would give Norris the title.

However, McLaren has made it clear that team orders will not be imposed as long as both drivers remain in mathematical contention, with CEO Zak Brown saying he would be prepared to lose the crown to Verstappen if it meant fairness was adopted across both cars.

Addressing the possibility for the first time, Norris indicated that he would not demand the swap be ordered.

"No, it has not been discussed, and honestly, I mean, I would love it, but I don't think I would ask it because, I don't know, I don't know, it is up to Oscar if he would allow it," Norris told media, including RacingNews365.

"I don't think it is necessarily down to me, it is the same if it is the other way around, would I be willing to or not?

"Personally, I think I would, just because I feel like I am always like that, and that's just how I am, but it is not really up to me, and I am not going to ask it. 

"I don't want to ask it because I don't think it is necessarily a fair question at the same time. If that is how it ends and Max wins, then, well, that is it, congrats to him, and I look forward to next year.

"It doesn't change anything, doesn't change my life, and so he would deserve it over us."

Piastri was then what he would do if the order came, and said he "did not have an answer."

"It is not something we've discussed, so yeah, until I know what is kind of expected, I don't really have an answer until I know what is expected of me."