McLaren sticks to ‘papaya’ driver‑order policy through 2026, says Zak Brown
McLaren CEO Zak Brown says the team will retain its internal ‘papaya’ driver‑order system into 2026, ensuring Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri can race freely despite past bias accusations.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown confirmed the team will keep its internal ‘papaya’ driver‑order policy through the 2026 season, allowing Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to race each other without a preset hierarchy despite recent bias claims.
Why it matters:
Team orders can swing constructor points, affect driver morale and shape fan perception. By keeping the papaya policy, McLaren signals that its primary goal is the constructors’ championship rather than individual driver titles.
The details:
- Papaya rules put the team's result ahead of any driver and are reviewed race‑by‑race.
- Brown says the guidelines stay unchanged despite accusations of favoritism toward Norris.
- Past incidents – the Italian GP car swap, Singapore clash handling and a questionable Qatar pit call – were cited as examples of perceived bias.
- Brown calls the criticism “uninformed” and stresses both drivers remain free to compete.
What's next:
The papaya framework will stay in place for 2026, with McLaren aiming to maximise constructor points while letting both drivers chase wins. Brown says the team will be “strategic and intelligent” in race situations, invoking the rules only when needed. If Norris and Piastri can race openly, McLaren hopes to challenge Red Bull for the constructors’ title and keep internal disputes low.