Piastri poses 'the genuine threat' to Norris in the finale.

Piastri poses 'the genuine threat' to Norris in the finale.

      "If he has the opportunity to hinder him, he will."

      Lando Norris has been cautioned that his primary challenge in Sunday’s title showdown may not be Max Verstappen, but rather Oscar Piastri, amid what insiders are calling a season's worth of underlying frustration within Piastri's camp. Matteo Bobbi, a former Minardi test driver and figure at Sky Italia, stated that tensions between Piastri, his manager Mark Webber, and McLaren have escalated to a point where the 24-year-old is unlikely to support his teammate.

      "Norris’ main competitor in Abu Dhabi is Piastri. Oscar lost the World Championship in Qatar and will go to great lengths to prevent his teammate from clinching it," he remarked. "If he gets the chance to hinder him, he will."

      Piastri approaches the finale with nothing at stake. "Piastri needs to go all out. He has the least to lose. His aim should be to secure pole position and hope that Norris has a qualifying mishap. Otherwise, there could be team orders even before the race begins."

      IndyCar champion Alex Palou, in a conversation with Mundo Deportivo, also criticized McLaren’s often-ridiculed ‘Papaya Rules’ fairness guidelines. "They intended to be the friendly team, but in attempting to do so, they achieved the contrary, making it evident that one driver is preferred," he stated. "I don’t believe there is genuine favoritism, but the Papaya Rules have not proven effective for them."

      Palou expressed disbelief that McLaren has nearly squandered the championship despite having the best car. When asked if he could have claimed the title in the MCL39, he replied, "I think so."

      And about Verstappen? "Absolutely! He would have secured this World Championship weeks ago. Max is the only one who could have won it two months prior." Palou—who famously had a falling out with McLaren and Zak Brown—was also asked about what kind of "piranha" McLaren's CEO is in the paddock. "A big one," he quickly responded.

      Bernie Ecclestone informed the Daily Mail that he still believes Verstappen will win the title against the odds. "Lando is a really talented driver, but he’s overconfident, he’s cocky, and he gets anxious during critical moments. Max stands alone," he commented. "You can never bet against Max. He is unique and has nothing to lose."

      Norris, likely feeling the pressure of expectations, has opted out of his usual pre-race briefing with the British media in Abu Dhabi. Jean Alesi shared his perspective with Corriere della Sera: "Regardless of how it concludes, special mention goes to Max Verstappen. He supports the team, and he’s perfectly in sync with his teammates. Bravo."

      Another F1 legend, Mario Andretti, believes the title favorite remains the leader in the standings, though not by much. "Lando is in the most favorable position," he stated. "He is certainly the favorite," he told Marca. "But never discount Max. He adds a lot of excitement to the races."

Piastri poses 'the genuine threat' to Norris in the finale.

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Piastri poses 'the genuine threat' to Norris in the finale.

Formula 1 | Lando Norris has been cautioned that his primary challenge in Sunday's championship showdown might not be Max Verstappen, but rather Oscar Piastri, according to insiders.