Norris Blocked From Using Controversial Schumacher Tactic to Win F1 Title
Norris will have to play fair.
Lando Norris will be unable to follow in Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna's footsteps with a controversial tactic to win in Abu Dhabi.
The McLaren star could have wrapped up his first title in Qatar on Sunday, but a combination of individual error and team strategy mean Norris must wait until Abu Dhabi.
The Papaya duo were the only two cars who didn't stop under the lap seven safety car essentially handing Max Verstappen P1, with Piastri recovering to second, and Norris fourth.
Norris sits 12 points ahead of Verstappen after his victory at Lusail, with teammate Piastri 16 points back after McLaren cost him a vital win.
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Following Qatar's result, it means all three contenders can still emerge as world champion in Abu Dhabi with Norris only needing to make the podium to secure the title.
Two rivals means Norris can't risk Schumacher tactic
While Norris will be thinking of every possible way he can win his maiden championship, the three way battle means one controversial option from the past is off the table.
Despite still being recognised as two of the best ever, Schumacher and Senna both secured championships in unsportsmanlike fashion when leading heading into the final round.
Both icons appeared to purposefully crash into their title rivals to ensure they won the title, with Schumacher trying on two occasions (1994, 1997) and Senna in 1990.
With Norris facing two potential threats, he will be unable to jeopardise his own race in the same way previous champions have done, knowing a DNF would almost certainly see him lose the title.
Even if Norris was able to take out both his title rivals, he would have to do so in such a manner that the FIA would be unable to prove intent, which would be highly unlikely.
Despite his second attempt resulting in Schumacher being disqualified from the championship, the German always insisted it wasn't intentional.
"I saw him coming and I closed the door, that’s what any driver would do," Schumacher claimed.
“I tried to defend my position and it went wrong."
“People can think what they want I know what really happened," he later added.
Senna meanwhile admitted his move on Alain Prost was intentional, arguing that it was payback for being 'wronged' the previous year.
“I did it because I felt I had been wronged, I was not going to give him that corner," Senna explained.
Topics: Lando Norris, Formula 1, Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, Michael Schumacher
Tom Jenkins