Piastri 'a fan' of the papaya rules: "Strong value to keep racing by"
Getty Images
F1 News
Oscar Piastri has said that he and Lando Norris will "do the right thing" when it comes to battling each other on track during the 2025 season. Last season, McLaren used what they called 'papaya rules' when both Norris and Piastri were fighting each other on track, and although they won their first constructors' title since 1998, there were some issues that with the team's philosophy.
Lando Norris was the main challenger to Max Verstappen during the 2024 season, but the enforcement of the so-called 'papaya rules' which allowed Piastri to fight Norris and take points off him hindered the Brit's Drivers' title bid, with Norris having to let the Australian through at the Hungarian Grand Prix, and then Piastri going for a daring overtake around the outside of Norris at variante della roggia at Monza, both consequences of the driver management philosophy adopted by McLaren.
Piastri, who finished below Norris in the drivers' standings last season, hopes to continue the constructors' title success with McLaren, but there is also the hope for a world championship success. The 23-year-old explains why McLaren might be the favourite and what the battle plan looks like for next year with regard to the 'papaya rules'.
Piastri: 'Papaya rules will not change'
"I would like to think that part of the reason why we're in such a strong position now going into the season is partly down to the teamwork that we've had together. Obviously between us and the whole team, but just us two as teammates, I think hopefully we've set a very good example for everyone in the team. Of course, we're fighting each other hard and want our own personal success, but we're doing that in a way that's helping the team and helping each other. And I think that's an incredibly important message to keep strong and a strong value to keep racing by," Piastri explained at the F1 75 Live event in London.
"Of course, we're both going into the season with our eyes on winning the Drivers' Championship, but we've also got our eyes on the Constructors' Championship for the team, so that's not going to change. I think again the last two seasons we've proven many times that we're very respectful of each other and have a lot of respect for each other and do the right thing for each other and the team. I think that has certainly played a significant part in our success," the Australian concluded.
This article was created in collaboration with Estéban den Toom
Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels!