Lando Norris BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.
Lando Norris heads into the Abu Dhabi title decider as the cool-eyed centre of Formula Ones biggest story of the week. Formula1 dot com and Sky Sports report that he topped both Friday practice sessions at Yas Marina, quickest by more than three tenths over Max Verstappen in FP2, yet he insisted there was nothing to smile about, stressing he is not completely confident and wants more from the car overnight. The Race notes that unexpected front tyre graining at Yas Marina has resurrected what Norris once called his worst nightmare, potentially turning Sundays grand prix into a more complex two stop race and adding a serious strategic twist to his first championship showdown.
ESPN and the Associated Press report that McLaren chief Zak Brown has publicly backed Norris, insisting he is not scared of Verstappen and confirming the team will consider team orders between Norris and Oscar Piastri if needed to secure the drivers title. Brown has also been forced to swat away social media conspiracy theories that McLaren favours Norris over Piastri, a narrative that has spilled as far as an Australian parliamentary hearing according to AP and The Race. The Race further explains that McLaren has sharply limited both drivers media duties in Abu Dhabi, which fueled wild claims that Piastri was being muzzled while Norris continued to court the UK press, something the outlet says is not true and is instead a team wide policy to reduce distractions.
In Thursdays packed FIA press conference, covered by The Independent, Norris tried to downplay the occasion, calling it just another weekend even as he sits 12 points clear of Verstappen and stands on the brink of becoming Britains 11th world champion and McLarens first since Lewis Hamilton in 2008. When pressed on team orders, he said it is up to Oscar if he would move aside but added that in the reverse situation he personally would be willing to help his teammate, while refusing to ask for favors himself. Asked what a title would mean, he briefly dropped the poker face and admitted it would mean the world and cap 16 years of work.
On social media, the dominant Norris chatter in recent days has centred on those team orders debates, the alleged bias row, and clipped video of his Abu Dhabi practice pace and terse radio, but beyond that there have been no credible reports of major off track business deals or new endorsements this week.
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