McLaren's Controversial Papaya Rules to Continue Amid Team Order Debate
McLaren Racing has confirmed it will persist with its contentious papaya rules for the upcoming Formula One season, maintaining a policy that allows teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to race each other freely. The internal guidelines permit open competition between the drivers provided they avoid collisions that could cost the team valuable championship points, rather than enforcing strict team orders.
Controversial History and Allegations of Bias
The papaya rules first sparked significant controversy during the 2025 season when McLaren instructed Piastri to surrender his second-place finish to Norris following a slow pit stop at the Italian Grand Prix. Critics have pointed to several intra-team incidents, including Norris clipping Piastri at the start of the Singapore Grand Prix, which occurred without team intervention, arguing that the rules have been applied inconsistently.
Many observers have alleged bias toward Norris, who ultimately secured last year's drivers' championship title. Team principal Zak Brown has firmly rejected these claims, describing them as "ill-informed" and "ridiculous." Brown emphasized that the drivers will continue to have racing freedom while the team manages situations strategically.
"They continue to be free to race again. We will be strategic and intelligent when situations arise, and there won't be much change because they were free to race last year," Brown stated.
Piastri's Grave Concerns About New F1 Regulations
Meanwhile, Australian driver Oscar Piastri has issued a stark warning about the new Formula One regulations introduced at the start of 2026, suggesting they could fundamentally damage the sport. The 24-year-old, who finished third in last year's World Drivers Championship, expressed particular concern about race starts under the new technical specifications.
During pre-season testing, Piastri participated in a standing race start experiment with six other drivers, resulting in four cars remaining stationary on the grid. He highlighted the complexity of achieving safe, competitive starts with reduced downforce and questioned whether drivers should be permitted to use the new straight-line mode at race beginnings.
"Starts need to be addressed because, probably as we've all seen, it's a pretty complicated process now to have a safe start, let alone a competitive one," Piastri explained. "[It is] whether we use straight-line mode at the start, because I think a pack of 22 cars with a couple of hundred points less of downforce sounds like a recipe for disaster to me."
Widespread Driver Criticism and Additional Challenges
Piastri is not alone in his criticism of the new regulations. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has claimed that elements of the required driving style are "not what racing is about," while four-time champion Max Verstappen has compared the new cars to Formula E vehicles and even threatened to quit the sport as a consequence.
Beyond starting procedures, Piastri has identified overtaking as another significant challenge drivers will face. The removal of the Drag Reduction System (DRS) during the off-season has created uncertainty about how drivers will execute passes during races, potentially reducing on-track action and competitive excitement.
The combination of McLaren's internal racing policies and sweeping regulatory changes sets the stage for a dramatic Formula One season, with team dynamics and technical adaptability becoming crucial factors in the championship battle.
