F1 News

Team orders given by McLaren for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

What do "papaya rules" mean for Norris and Piastri at McLaren?

1 September at 14:35
  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

McLaren have told Lando Norris about "papaya rules" over the team radio. It's a mystery call, but seems like team orders are going to be put in place for the McLaren team. When the call was made, Norris was behind his teammate Oscar Piastri after losing out on the opening lap.

Ferrari, especially with Charles Leclerc, are showing good race pace and challenging McLaren for the win in Italy. Norris was told over the radio: "Lando, it is likely we will have to cover with the other car, it’ll be papaya rules," Will Joseph, Norris' engineer said over the team radio.

Joseph then said: "You are allowed to race with Oscar. Papaya rules." All of this follows the issue in Hungary whereby Norris was forced to give a place back to (and therefore the race win) Piastri. Norris eventually obliged after stern radio message.

What does papaya rules mean for McLaren?

Speaking to GPblog and others in the paddock on Saturday, team boss Andrea Stella explained what that call means. "When the car is papaya, you are always careful with any other competitor. But if the car is papaya, you take even extra care. Because we need to make sure, especially being the car so competitive, that we see the chequered flag," Stella said. As a result, it seems that Norris and Piastri are free to race for the win.