The infamous papaya rules were one of the main themes of the 2025 Formula 1 season. McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both had competitive cars, but the team management refused to designate a lead driver. Fair chances and equal treatment were the aim. After Norris crowned himself champion in Abu Dhabi, Piastri was asked about the role distribution for 2026. Nothing will change, he assured.
During the official FIA press conference, Oscar Piastri, who ultimately finished third in the world championship, was asked if McLaren would adopt a new approach in 2026. Would Norris be treated differently as the reigning champion? “Nothing will change,” he assured. “He had a fantastic season and rightly won the championship. But in the end, he is still just Lando Norris,” Piastri laughed. “The title doesn’t make him Superman. I don’t think anything will change. I expect the team to continue to be fair and treat us equally. I’m not worried about that. Lando simply had a fantastic season and performed better than I did.”
Both Have Become Better Drivers
The papaya rules dominated the headlines this season. McLaren tried to give both drivers a fair chance in the world championship, although in practice this often led to team orders directed at the Australian. For instance, Piastri had to give up his second place in Monza to Norris because the Brit had made a slow pit stop. Both drivers complied with the instructions from the pit wall, preventing major conflicts. There was never really a papaya war, a derivative of the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at Mercedes.
“That’s just how we race,” Piastri clarified. “Of course, it’s never easy to fight for both titles with two very equal drivers, but in the end, we knew this would be a challenge. At the same time, a lot of good came out of it. Yes, there were tensions at times, but I think Norris and I both became better drivers because we could push each other to the limit,” Piastri explained. “We had many conversations this year, and I’m sure we’ll have more during the winter break. Ultimately, we both had a fair chance to claim the title this year. You can’t ask for more than that.”
