P1racenews AI automatic summary:
‘Papaya rules’ was a controversial aspect of the intra-McLaren fight in 2025.
Oscar Piastri has suggested that McLaren might consider revising its ‘papaya rules’ following a review during the offseason. In the 2025 title fight against eventual champion Lando Norris, Piastri felt he was unfairly affected by various incidents as the competition heated up. One such incident occurred in Italy when Piastri complied with a team directive to let Norris pass after a slow pit-stop, which he considered a normal part of racing. The ‘papaya rules,’ established publicly in 2024, aim to prevent collisions between teammates, according to drivers, team principal Andrea Stella, and CEO Zak Brown. Piastri was disappointed in Singapore when Norris made contact with him on the opening lap without being instructed to give up the position. Piastri’s championship hopes were dashed by a late-season dip in form, leading him to address the team’s directive approach for the upcoming season. He emphasized that while the topic garners much external discussion, the team internally considers it a minor issue, with ongoing assessments and potential adjustments to optimize their racing strategies.”
