Oscar Piastri has bluntly told McLaren he will not play wingman to Lando Norris in the final two races of the 2025 championship. With 58 points still available and Piastri tied on points with Max Verstappen, the Australian made it clear he is racing only for himself. When asked if he would help Norris protect Norris’s 24-point lead, he replied, “We’ve had a very brief discussion, and the answer is no.”
Piastri insists his own title chance is still alive and realistic. “I’m equal on points with Max and have a decent shot if things go my way,” he said in Qatar. He admitted that even two perfect weekends might not be enough without some luck, but he refuses to give up the fight while the numbers still work. “It’s happened before, so I know it’s not impossible.”
The 24-year-old has gone six races without a podium since Monza, but he is not letting the recent slump change his mindset. He plans to treat Qatar and Abu Dhabi like any other weekend, going flat-out for wins and podiums. “I’m just going to try to have the best weekends I can and see what happens,” he said.
Piastri also pointed out that outside factors could shake up the battle anyway. Verstappen has been the fastest driver since the summer break, while Mercedes and Ferrari have occasionally mixed it at the front. “Everyone is going out there to fight for wins and podiums. I’m not expecting anyone to make life easy,” he added.
With the Las Vegas double disqualification keeping him in mathematical contention, Piastri is determined to end the year on a high. Qatar has been one of his strongest tracks, and he made his intentions crystal clear: “A hunter has to be ruthless. I’ll try my best to get the best out of myself.” For the next two weekends, McLaren has two drivers chasing the same crown, not one leader and one helper.
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