McLaren have indicated they may use team orders at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to protect their championship hopes against Max Verstappen, though they’ve stopped short of laying out exactly what those measures will look like.
The team has already run Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri through various scenarios in private meetings this week. Norris holds a 16-point advantage over his teammate, but Verstappen is just 12 points adrift.
There are two main complications for McLaren. While Piastri’s chances are slim, he’s still mathematically in the hunt, so it’s not out of reach just yet.
Secondly, McLaren have always emphasised equal treatment between drivers. So there’s a concern that leaning too heavily towards Norris could unsettle things within the camp back at Woking.
Oscar Piastri will only take team orders late in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
A RacingNews365 NL report has shed some light on McLaren’s approach for Sunday. They won’t be issuing team orders at the start of the race.
McLaren would clearly prefer not to intervene at all. But if Verstappen is still in the hunt and Piastri has dropped out of contention, a late call could come down to how Norris needs his help.
If Verstappen is out front with Piastri running third and Norris fourth, a position swap would make sense for McLaren’s title hopes.
Even though he’ll have full freedom early on, it’s expected that Piastri will step in to support if it comes to that.
Why McLaren might not wait until the final lap to call team orders
It’s worth noting that last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, like most races in the 2025 season, was a one-stop event. In that context, the ‘final stint’ could span over 30 laps.
McLaren are likely to hold off as long as they can before stepping in, waiting until the race outcome looks settled. But that’s a risky approach with the potential for a late safety car always in play.
Keeping their plans under wraps makes strategic sense too, giving Red Bull less information to work with on their pit wall.
Martin Brundle has backed Piastri to put the team first if needed, and his track record in Formula One supports that view.
And it’s not just about sacrifice. Jolyon Palmer points out that McLaren might repay Piastri’s support by favouring him in future split decisions next season.
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