Lando Norris confirms crucial Oscar Piastri role in F1 title win

Lando Norris has revealed Oscar Piastri starting the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on hard tyres was part of a McLaren strategy to make life more difficult for Max Verstappen.

The Dutchman triumphed at Yas Marina, but was powerless to prevent Norris taking his crown, with the British driver winning the title by two points, having finished third on the road.

Piastri, in the leading MCL39, utilised the offset approach to finish second and — whilst fighting for his own championship destiny — was deployed to "push Max into doing something", in the words of his title-winning team-mate.

The Australian stormed around the outside of Norris at Turn 9 on the opening lap, setting off after Verstappen on more durable rubber, going long into the race and preventing the Red Bull driver from backing the McLarens into the chasing pack — tactics he could have used to his advantage.

When asked about Piastri's first lap move, Norris acknowledged that it was always a pre-planned possibility, if not completely scheduled.

"There wasn't an exact plan, but I was very happy letting Oscar go," the F1 drivers' champion told Sky Sports F1. "He started on the hard to try and push Max into doing something.

"Oscar was just as much a part of trying to achieve what we've achieved, and I have to thank him for that."

Having shown his gratitude for the part Piastri played in helping him clinch the title, Norris shared his unfulfilled wish for the 24-year-old to have returned to winning ways, after not taking victory since the Dutch Grand Prix in August.

In doing so, Piastri slumped from a 34-point advantage over his team-mate — and a 104-point lead on Verstappen — to falling short of the crown by 14 points.

"I wanted Oscar to win today," he explained. "That would have made me even happier, seeing Oscar on the top step, because he would have got his job done of trying to finish second [in the championship], and I would have also got my job done through that.

"So it's a shame that couldn't be the case, and honestly, I was really hoping that was going to be the case."