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Oscar Piastri reveals McLaren papaya rules ‘tweaks’ after ‘headaches last year’
Oscar Piastri has confirmed that “tweaks” will be made to McLaren’s ‘papaya rules’ after experiencing “headaches” last year that he believes could have been avoided.
McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, has consistently emphasized that Piastri and his teammate Lando Norris will always be treated equally in decision-making during a race weekend, including grand prix events.
During the previous season, there were incidents where Piastri felt he was not treated fairly. For example, at the Italian Grand Prix, he was asked to give up a position to Norris, despite Norris facing challenges due to a slow pit stop. Piastri expressed his frustration over the radio, feeling this situation was not what had been agreed upon.
At subsequent races such as Singapore, Piastri also sensed unfair treatment when Norris pushed him off the track at Turn 3 on the first lap. Piastri raised concerns and suggested the lost position should be returned, but McLaren upheld the existing approach.
There were further instances at circuits like Silverstone, Austria, and Hungary where McLaren’s favoritism towards Norris over Piastri was apparent, leading Norris to finish the season 13 points ahead of his teammate while clinching his first title.
Stella has indicated a plan to streamline the rules, with Piastri acknowledging that changes will be in place this year. Piastri highlighted the need to refine the rules to ensure positive outcomes, despite acknowledging the tendency for speculation and misunderstandings in the public discourse surrounding team decisions and dynamics at McLaren.
