Norris - Piastri Chase Triumph to Secure Team’s Ultimate Goal

McLaren F1 eyes victory in Abu Dhabi, with Norris and Piastri determined to seal the constructors’ championship in style.

Lando Norris secured a stunning pole position in Abu Dhabi, in a weekend where McLaren F1 battles Ferrari for the constructors’ title. The British driver celebrated his pole but remains focused on chasing victory, which would effectively secure the crown for his team with style.

“It was a perfect day for us. A bit tougher than we expected, but we’ve been quick all weekend. We’re happy with the one-two, though it was harder than anticipated. My lap at the end was strong, and we finished the day well,” said Norris.

“We need to beat Ferrari, but we want to do it with style. We want to win; I want to win. We know what we have to do. We’ll keep our heads down, stay focused, but we’re here to win as many races as we can.”

“We’ll have a good chance tomorrow, and we’ll give it everything. But we’ll keep in mind that there’s a greater goal. Thanks to the team for doing an incredible job—it’s a great way to end the season.”

Oscar Piastri secured second place, completing a strong team result as he lines up on the front row alongside his teammate. The Australian is more cautious, prioritizing securing the title over pursuing victory.

“It was a bit trickier compared to yesterday, and it took us some time to find the rhythm in qualifying, but we got there. It’s a great result for the team, and I’m happy with it. That last lap… I’d like to do it again, but it’s a good result, and being first and second is a dream for the team right now,” said Piastri.

After seeing his first Q3 lap time deleted, he learned just before his second run that the time had been reinstated, creating a brief moment of tension: “I didn’t say much at the time, but I thought that if I was out, it was by a tiny margin, and if I was within the limits, it was also by a tiny margin.”

“I stayed focused, knowing I had to put in a good lap, and the second one was better. It just wasn’t quite fast enough. It was a tense moment, but it was reassuring to know I at least had that lap time. Still, I knew I needed to find more performance.”

He confirmed that caution will be key in chasing the constructors’ crown: “We’ll do what we can to win the championship—that’s by far the biggest goal. We both want to win the race, but everyone would be happy to win the championship, and we’ll make sure we get it done.”