Max Verstappen’s charge to within 12 points of a fifth straight championship has increased pressure on McLaren ahead of the Abu Dhabi finale.

Lando Norris needs a third-place finish to secure the title, while Oscar Piastri faces a 16-point deficit and must outscore Norris by 17 points and Verstappen by five to become champion.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella admitted recent errors, including the Las Vegas double disqualification and the missed Safety Car pit-stop opportunity in Qatar - which Piastri feels cost him the win - have weakened their title push, leaving Stella to consider breaking McLaren’s internal rule against team orders.

The Italian team principal said both drivers will be allowed to race, but the priority is ensuring one McLaren driver beats Verstappen in the championship fight.

Aston Martin will run Scottish driver Cian Shields in FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, giving him his Formula 1 weekend debut. Fernando Alonso will sit out the session so the team can complete its final mandatory rookie running for the season.

Shields joins fellow Formula 2 driver Jak Crawford, who was previously confirmed as Aston Martin’s third driver for 2026 and will also take part in rookie FP1 duties. Shields, currently in his first F2 campaign, said he is grateful for the opportunity after spending the year working with the team in the simulator and through TPC testing. Chief Engineer Gerry Hughes said Shields has shown strong feedback and professionalism throughout the season and that the FP1 outing will allow him to apply the knowledge and experience he has gained.

Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.