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Verstappen: Piastri ‘sold his soul’ to McLaren
Four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen criticized McLaren’s handling of Oscar Piastri during the 2025 season, where Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris won the title by just two points. McLaren had the dominant car, leading to a close championship battle between Norris and Piastri.
During the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren asked Piastri to give back a position to Norris after a botched pit stop, causing a swing in the championship points.
Verstappen expressed that accommodating team orders without a clear reason could set a dangerous precedent for future scenarios.
There are doubts whether McLaren’s tactics will change in 2026, especially with potential new regulations shaking up F1’s competitive order.
Despite this uncertainty, McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown stated that they will continue their ‘papaya rules’ approach to ensure fairness between their drivers.
