Piastri concedes Norris deserved F1 title after Abu Dhabi finale

Oscar Piastri finished third in the drivers' championship after Lando Norris secured the 2024 F1 title in Abu Dhabi, with the Australian acknowledging his teammate's superior consistency in their fierce intra-team battle. Despite executing a bold strategic gamble and overtaking Norris at the start, Piastri couldn't challenge Max Verstappen's race-winning pace and ultimately conceded the crown to his McLaren teammate.

Why it matters:

This championship outcome validates McLaren's driver pairing strategy while highlighting the razor-thin margins in modern F1. With both drivers using identical machinery, Norris' title win demonstrates how consistency trumps occasional brilliance in season-long battles—a crucial lesson for teams evaluating driver lineups. The result also marks McLaren's first drivers' championship since 1999, ending a 25-year drought for the iconic team.

The details:

• Piastri executed an aggressive Turn 9 overtake on Norris at the start but couldn't match Verstappen's pace, finishing third in the race while Norris secured third place—the minimum required to clinch the title.
• Verstappen's refusal to manage the pace difference between himself and the chasing pack inadvertently helped Norris maintain his championship position, contrary to pre-race speculation about potential team orders from Red Bull.
• Strategic gamble: Piastri revealed McLaren attempted an unconventional strategy to create alternative race outcomes: "We tried a bit of a gamble to give ourselves different options and hope the stars aligned, but ultimately that didn't happen."
• Practice disruption: The Australian missed crucial practice time before qualifying, impacting his race preparation: "Took a little bit to find my feet... We didn't have an answer for Max's pace."
• Teammate respect: Piastri emphasized the season-long intensity of their battle: "I know every weekend it's going to be tough. This season it's been tighter than ever... He's had a great season and is a deserving champion."

What's next:

The championship conclusion sets up an intriguing dynamic for McLaren's 2025 campaign. With Norris now a world champion and Piastri establishing himself as a consistent front-runner, the team faces the delicate challenge of managing two elite drivers in identical machinery.

• Team principal Andrea Stella must balance resources between both camps while maintaining the competitive tension that drove their 2024 success.
• Piastri's performance—particularly his racecraft and strategic adaptability—positions him as a legitimate title contender for next season if McLaren maintains its current development trajectory.
• The emotional radio moment where Norris broke down in tears upon securing the title underscores the psychological weight of F1's ultimate prize, a factor that could influence both drivers' approaches to future pressure situations.