Lando Norris and McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri have addressed the thorny issue of so-called ‘Papaya Rules’ at the Australian Grand Prix following their front-row lock-out.
Norris denied Piastri a home grand prix pole at the death in Q3 by less than a tenth to bank a first all-McLaren front-row in Australia since 2012 when Lewis Hamilton and race-winner Jenson Button took the top spots.
Norris and Piastri have been subject to so-called ‘Papaya Rules’ from bosses Andrea Stella and Zak Brown, including famously at the 2024 Italian GP where Piastri muscled past Norris on the opening lap.
With McLaren confirming pre-season suggestions that it is the fastest car on the grid with its record-equalling 12th season-opener front-row lock-out, both drivers have addressed the issue, with Max Verstappen lurking in third at Albert Park.
Below are what the two drivers said in full, with Norris presented first ahead of Piastri.
Lando Norris on McLaren Papaya Rules team orders
“There have obviously been discussions because we prepared and we know we’re going to have a lot more of this kind of things over the course of the season.
“Clearly there are rules, but there are literally rules we cannot cross, and both cars will always have to stay in the race, but we are both competitors.
“We both want to fight for a win and fight for victories but there are boundaries around the car and it is just a little bit of space here and there, but we are free to race.
“We’re free to try and win races but what won us the constructors’ last year was how we helped one another out, and how we kept things clean and how there was order when there needed to be.
“But that was very much later in the season, when external things were happening, but at the minute there is none of that.”
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Oscar Piastri on McLaren Papaya Rules team orders
“We’re free to race, and obviously I want to win races as much as Lando does, at any team the number one rule is to have no contact and to give each other space.
“If there are opportunities for either one of us to take advantage of certain situations, we’re free to do that, but ultimately we are racing for the team.
“It is a very important thing for us, and as we said numerous times last year, the teamwork that we showed as drivers and as a team is what won us the constructors’ last year.
“It is important to recognise that fact because the car has been strong for a while now.”
