Piastri clear on rules within McLaren: 'Starting with a clean slate'

Last year, McLaren's 'papaya rules' philosohpy muddled up who th team viewed as their potential championship contender in the Drivers' title, eventually Lando Norris. This year, however, the Woking-based outfit goes back to square one, Oscar Piastri told reporters on the eve of the Australian Grand Prix.

Last season, there seemed to be no team orders on how the team dynamics would be handled with Lando Norris being the only McLaren driver within a shot at the championship. With confusing orders in Hungary, and Piastri's daring overtake on Norris at the Italian Grand Prix, it was clear the team had failed to make a decision on the matter, with the team eventually backing Lando Norris in the dying stages of the season.

This season, clear agreements were made beforehand, though: "We're starting from a clean slate, and ultimately, whoever's going to be faster on track is going to be the one who wins and finishes higher. We’re very much clear on how we’re going into the season, and that’s racing each other and trying to hopefully fight for wins."

The McLaren driver continued, "It’s all very clear. We've discussed a lot from last season and how we managed the back end of last year. And I think this year, starting from zero again, we’re both going to be trying our best to win."