Oscar Piastri hopes the headaches over McLaren’s so‑called “papaya rules” are finally a thing of the past. The conduct rules for McLaren’s drivers came under fire repeatedly in 2025, especially after the Australian in Monza was ordered to give way to team‑mate Lando Norris. Piastri is generally happy with his squad’s code of conduct, but he agrees with team boss Andrea Stella that the team should streamline those rules.
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella had already confirmed it: the “papaya rules” will once again apply in 2026. The British outfit wants to give Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri — just as during their title fight last season — equal opportunities to fight for wins and a next championship. Still, the Italian team principal concluded the team does need to tighten up and streamline the “rules” a little.
“A ‘good decision,'” Piastri says during the media session at the McLaren Technology Centre in early February. “We probably gave ourselves unnecessary headaches at times last year (with the ‘papaya rules‘, ed.).” The moment at the recent Italian Grand Prix — when Piastri was instructed by the team to hand his second place in the race to Norris — drew heavy criticism. Still, the Australian remains a supporter of the ‘rules’. “As a general principle and a way of racing it brings a lot of positives. The real question is: how can we refine it so that it stays only positive?”
No preferential treatment
There were plenty of critics last season claiming Norris received slight preferential treatment from McLaren via the ‘papaya rules’. According to Piastri, that’s not the case. The Australian reiterates he was given a “fair chance” in last year’s title fight. “And I expect that will remain exactly the same,” the driver said. “That certainly doesn’t mean some things couldn’t have been handled better last year. I think that was clear to anyone watching. But for me there was never any ill intent, nor moments where I questioned the motives behind actions.”
