The three title contenders are feeling surprisingly chill heading into this weekend’s season finale in Abu Dhabi, despite the enormous pressure on the line.
“I’m very relaxed. Nothing to lose, so I’m just enjoying being here,” says Max Verstappen, sounding more like someone on vacation than a driver fighting for a championship.
Lando Norris has the most at stake. He’s sitting on a points advantage that puts him in the driver’s seat for the title, but that also means he has the most to lose compared to his teammate.
Verstappen finds himself in the middle after his win in Qatar and McLaren’s strategy mess. He’s now chasing Norris with a 12-point gap to close while holding a slim 4-point lead over Oscar Piastri.
## Verstappen: Just enjoying the ride
Verstappen seems genuinely unbothered heading into the decisive weekend. He’s taking everything in stride after an impressive comeback since the summer break.
“I’m very relaxed. Nothing to lose, so I’m just enjoying being here,” he said. “But for me, it’s not even about being here. I’m actually enjoying the second half of the season working with the team, how we’ve been able to turn it around from difficult times.”
The defending champion has gone from frustrating performances to winning again, and that transformation has clearly lifted his spirits.
“Everything here is just a bonus and sitting here fighting for the title. So that’s also what makes it very straightforward for me. We will just try to have a good weekend. But then even then, it’s not really in my control. So we just, like I said, try to enjoy it.”
## Norris: Dodging the pressure questions
The championship leader claims he’s just as relaxed as Max, even though this is his first shot at becoming world champion.
“It’s similar. I’ve obviously not been in this situation before. So pretty different, I guess, for both of us. But at the minute, I feel good.”
Norris seems most bothered by the constant questions about pressure rather than the pressure itself.
“I really don’t think of it at all until you guys ask it all the time. So it’s trying to avoid you guys as much as possible,” he said with a laugh.
He’s been keeping his mind off the title fight in the lead-up to the race.
“I come into the weekend not thinking of it for the last three days, just playing some golf and being with my mates and having a good time. And I look forward to doing that on Monday, whether I’m hungover or not.”
Will the celebration drinks be flowing? That depends on Sunday’s result.
## Piastri: The underdog with nothing to lose
The Australian rookie is the longshot in this three-way battle, needing to make up a whopping 16 points.
“I’m relaxed. I’ve been on the opposite side of the championship battle in the junior categories, and I know what that felt, and it was pretty tough,” Piastri said.
Being the underdog has its advantages.
“Coming into it from the least to lose out of us three is quite different for me.”
Qatar gave Piastri a confidence boost heading into the finale.
“Off the back of Qatar, I’ve got a lot of confidence that I can perform well and obviously I need a fair few things to happen this weekend to come out champion but I’ll just make sure I’m in the right place in the right time and see what happens.”
## Team orders at McLaren?
One big question hanging over the weekend: will McLaren ask Piastri to help Norris win the championship?
Norris revealed the team hasn’t discussed this scenario internally yet.
The Briton admitted he “would love” to see such help from his teammate, but doesn’t want to be the one making that call. That decision, he feels, should come from McLaren leadership.
With three drivers, two teams, and just one race remaining, the Abu Dhabi finale is set to deliver one of the most dramatic conclusions to a Formula 1 season in recent memory.
