McLaren Reverses Stance: Team Orders Possible to Stop Verstappen's Title Run

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has confirmed the team is prepared to issue team orders to prevent Max Verstappen from winning the Drivers' Championship, a significant shift from their season-long policy of letting both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri race freely.

Why it matters:

McLaren's U-turn on team orders underscores the heightened stakes of the championship finale. For most of the season, the team maintained an equitable approach, allowing both Norris and Piastri to compete without favoritism. This stance was tenable when Verstappen held a commanding lead. However, with Verstappen now closing in on Norris for second place in the standings, the team is prioritizing the championship fight, even if it means sacrificing individual driver ambitions in the final race.

The Details:

• Policy Shift: Historically, McLaren has avoided implementing team orders, aiming to give both drivers an equal opportunity. This allowed Piastri to climb to third in the standings and Norris to hold second.
• Verstappen's Surge: Max Verstappen's remarkable late-season run has seen him narrow the gap, putting pressure on McLaren's strategy. He is now just 12 points behind Norris heading into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
• Brown's Concession: Speaking to Sky Sports, Zak Brown stated, "Yes, of course. We're realistic. We want to win this Drivers' Championship." He emphasized that if one driver has a clear chance to secure the championship and the other doesn't, the team will act to maximize their chances.
• Prioritizing the Championship: Brown clarified the team's objective: "We're not going to not win the championship because we're trying to protect a third and a fourth or a sixth and a seventh, or however the situation may play out."
• Norris's Stance: Lando Norris, when asked about team orders, expressed his personal reluctance to request them from Piastri, believing it's not a fair question. However, he also acknowledged that if Verstappen wins the title, he would "deserve it over us."

What's next:

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is set to be a tense affair. McLaren's willingness to deploy team orders introduces a new layer of strategy and drama. While Norris has not explicitly asked for Piastri to move aside, the team's management has made it clear they will intervene if it serves the ultimate goal of securing the Drivers' Championship. This decision will undoubtedly influence how both Norris and Piastri approach the race and could be a pivotal moment in the championship battle.