Carlos Sainz, now racing for Williams, believes his friend and former McLaren teammate Lando Norris will have an advantage over his rivals at this weekend’s title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Norris arrives at Yas Marina leading a tight three-way championship battle. He is 12 points ahead of Red Bull’s defending champion Max Verstappen, with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri another four points behind.
Sainz told reporters that Abu Dhabi is one of Norris’s strongest tracks. He said that during their two seasons together at McLaren, it was clear the Briton was always quick there. Sainz added that losing to Norris at last year’s race, when he finished second behind him in his final outing with Ferrari, still frustrates him.
Norris needs a top-three finish on Sunday to secure the title, regardless of what Verstappen or Piastri do. But the Spaniard warned it will not be easy. He pointed to the previous race in Qatar, where Norris missed the podium after a McLaren strategy mistake, even though he had a chance to wrap up the title that weekend.
Sainz believes Norris must avoid errors and deliver a perfect performance but says he has handled pressure well recently and is capable of finishing the job.
