McLaren threw ‘papaya rules’ to the wind in Italian Grand Prix team orders call

McLaren has spent over a year talking about its “papaya rules” — or, the mandate that its drivers race fairly against one another, without interference from the team. It just threw its own mandate to the wind at the Italian Grand Prix.

Asking Oscar Piastri to cede position to Lando Norris because the latter driver had a slow pit stop undermines everything the team has worked so hard to establish in terms of hands-off fairness as the title battle hots up.

McLaren undermines its own ‘papaya rules’ in Italy

As McLaren found itself suddenly challenging for race wins during the F1 2024 season, it quickly became clear that drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were both incredibly talented competitors who were evolving into capable championship challengers. Coming into 2025, it was obvious t