P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has spoken about McLaren’s controversial “papaya rules.”
Max Verstappen expressed his indifference towards McLaren’s controversial papaya rules, stating that it is not his concern, emphasizing his focus on the “remarkable” title challenge ahead of him. McLaren had issued team orders during the 2025 season to manage the competition between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, affecting Piastri’s performance mentally in subsequent races. Despite the mental impact, Piastri followed McLaren’s orders, resulting in a crucial point difference in Norris’s favor. Verstappen, the current world champion, finds himself trailing Norris by 49 points, acknowledging the team’s turnaround after a mid-season slump. He emphasized his focus on his own performance and having a competitive car to challenge McLaren effectively. Reflecting on his late-season title charge, Verstappen admitted it was remarkable to still be in contention despite the initial point gap, attributing it to the team’s resilience and impressive comeback.
