McLaren to refine 'papaya rules' for 2026 after 2025 'headaches'

McLaren is set to refine its internal team racing protocols, known as 'papaya rules,' for the 2026 Formula 1 season. Oscar Piastri confirmed the team is streamlining its approach after acknowledging self-inflicted complications during their intense 2025 championship battle, aiming for clearer and more harmonious intra-team competition.

Why it matters:

Internal team orders and racing ethics are a perennial high-wire act in F1, especially for title-contending teams. McLaren's move to refine its principles after a season where its two drivers fought for the championship signals a proactive approach to managing one of the sport's most delicate dynamics. Getting this balance right could be the difference between securing a constructors' title and seeing intra-team tension derail a campaign.

The details:

• The 'papaya rules' are McLaren's internal code governing how Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri race each other, with a primary focus on avoiding contact.
• Team Principal Andrea Stella confirmed a thorough winter review, reaffirming core principles of "fairness, integrity, equal opportunities, and sportsmanship" while seeking to "streamline" operations.
• Piastri pointed to specific 2025 incidents, like the team's decision not to instruct Norris to yield position after a contentious first-lap move in Singapore and an order for Piastri to give back a place in Italy after a Norris pitstop issue, as examples of situations that created unnecessary "headaches."
• The Australian driver emphasized that while the intent was never in question, the execution and communication around these moments could be improved.
• Piastri also dismissed any notion of favoritism towards Norris during their title fight, stating he always felt he had a "fair shot" at the championship.

What's next:

The refined rules will be tested under the new 2026 regulations, with both drivers committed to the team-first approach. For Piastri, entering his fourth season, the focus is on applying hard lessons from his 2025 performance dip in the final third of the season and converting his proven one-lap and race pace into a sustained title challenge. The evolution of the papaya rules is part of a broader effort by both driver and team to eliminate operational distractions and maximize performance in their pursuit of a first drivers' championship since 2008.