Despite both of his drivers making a contract at the Singapore Grand Prix, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella is not changing the team’s approach to the intra-team battle.
On the opening lap, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri made contact at Turn 3 when the Briton went up the inside of the No. 81 car. The move led to contact with Max Verstappen as Norris damaged the Red Bull’s front wing.
Then, Norris drifted wide and bumped Piastri wheel-to-wheel, forcing the championship leader to back off and avoid hitting the wall.
Piastri ended up falling right behind Norris, where he would remain for the remainder of the race. He called for a potential position swap, but the team did not comply.
Both McLaren drivers are fighting for the Drivers’ Championship, and the team has established rules of engagement known as “Papaya Rules,” a phrase coined by the McLaren leadership.
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There has been considerable discussion surrounding these rules, primarily regarding the complications in prioritizing who receives a pit stop at specific points or when drivers are supposed to swap positions.
McLaren captured the Constructors’ Championship at Singapore with the third and fourth place finishes from their drivers. Now that the team’s goal has been accomplished, Stella was asked if the drivers would be treated differently.
“The two drivers were already in condition to race and pursue their aspirations,” Stella told Sky Sports F1.
“We will stay in continuity with this approach. Every race, we learn a little bit, finetune but it’s a matter of details. There will be continuity with what’s the pursuit of the Drivers’ Championship. It doesn’t change the approach having won the Constructors’ Championship.”
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Piastri has a 22-point lead on Norris, while Verstappen is 63 points behind the Aussie. With six races left, the title is up for grabs. Verstappen has an outside chance, though it is likely to come down to Piastri or Norris.
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