Piastri hits brakes on Norris title talk—‘the answer is no’

Oscar Piastri has revealed he had a ‘very brief discussion’ with McLaren about potentially supporting Lando Norris in the race for the 2025 drivers championship title.

Unsurprisingly, the 24-year-old Australian declined the invitation to relinquish Papaya rules.

With just two Grand Prix and one Sprint race remaining in the 2025 Formula One season, Piastri trails his teammate Norris by 24 point and sits in a tie for second place with the fast-finishing Max Verstappen.

A maximum of 58 championship points are still available meaning any of the trio could win the 2025 title.

MORE: Double DQ—McLaren, Piastri, Norris react to Las Vegas F1 skid wear stuff-up

‘That’s how we’ll play’

Speaking with the international media at the Lusail circuit ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, Piastri was asked whether there had been any internal discussions about helping Norris win the 2025 title.

“We’ve had a very brief discussion on it, and the answer is no,” Piastri said.

“I’m still equal on points with Max and I’ve got a decent shot of still winning it if things go my way so that’s how we’ll play.”

Piastri also accepted that a stretch of lean results since the end of August means he no longer controls his own championship fortunes, even with a strong end to the F1 season.

“Obviously I know it (winning the drivers championship) is a bit of an outside shot… even I have a perfect final two weekends, I can’t just rely on that, I need other things to go my way,” he said.

“I’m very aware of that, so I’m just going to try to have the best weekends I can, which I try to do every weekend, and see what happens.”

Piastri finished third in the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix which was won by Max Verstappen, while Lando Norris finished tenth.

F1 Drivers World Championship Standings 2025