Motorsport photoEd HardyThu, November 27, 2025 at 5:31 PM UTC·6 min readMax Verstappen reckons Oscar Piastri should have told McLaren to “F off” had he been asked to support team-mate Lando Norris in his bid to become Formula 1 world champion.
The 2025 season has featured a year-long title battle between the McLaren pair, in which for most of it Piastri held the upper hand, until a late-season collapse has made Norris the favourite.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNorris leads the championship by 24 points with two rounds remaining, so will clinch the title if he outscores Piastri by at least two points at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.
But he also needs to outscore Verstappen by at least two points, given the Red Bull driver has enjoyed a late resurgence and is now level with Piastri after winning in Las Vegas last time out.
The Las Vegas GP also featured a double McLaren disqualification and since then, there has been pressure on the British outfit to ask Piastri to support Norris to ensure Verstappen doesn’t become a larger threat.
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McLaren has denied it will do this though, which Verstappen reckons is helpful for his own bid to become a five-time champion while also saying it was the right thing to do for his rival team.
“It's perfect,” said the Dutchman in Qatar. “I think you can't do a better job than allowing them to race as well, because why would you suddenly now say that Oscar wouldn't be allowed anymore?
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing“If that was said to me I would have not rocked up. I would have told him to ‘F off’. So yeah, if you're a real winner in a race, as a driver, then you go for it - even if you're behind.
“What's the point otherwise to turning up? Otherwise you can easily just label yourself as a number two driver which I think he doesn't want to be. Then for me, I know that I'm equal on points with Oscar.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Like I said before, a lot still needs to go right, but I think it should be like that, that they are free to race and hopefully we can make it a great battle until the end.”
Conversations about Verstappen becoming champion probably wouldn’t be taking place had Norris and Piastri respectively held onto second and fourth in Vegas, given the reigning champion would otherwise by 42 points off Norris at the top with a maximum of 58 points left to score.
But Verstappen is still in the fight and has confirmed his mindset hasn’t change, while also giving his opinion on the disqualification.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhen asked where he was when he found out, he said: “I was flying home. I knew of course there was some kind of investigation going into the plank and when it's too low, it's too low.
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing“There's so much that you can argue about that. Of course every team always runs it as low as they possibly can and sometimes you get it right. Sometimes it's a bit harder to measure, but there's no excuse. When you're too low, it's too low.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Same with other rules in the sport, unfortunately it's like that. Of course the gap closed a bit with that but still 24 points.
“A lot needs to go well until the end to have a chance, but it's definitely a better chance than what it was before that.
“So we take it, but you need to also be aware that even if you win everything you still need a bit of luck. So we'll see how that goes. For us nothing changes. We go all in. We have nothing to lose.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPhotos from Qatar GP - Thursday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariKym Illman / Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Scuderia Ferrari pit crew practice
Scuderia Ferrari pit crew practiceDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariKym Illman / Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, FerrariKym Illman / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
A general view of the Paddock
A general view of the PaddockMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Scuderia Ferrari pit crew practice
Scuderia Ferrari pit crew practiceDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, SauberDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineJayce Illman / Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIsack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, AlpineSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGeorge Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
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