If Verstappen had become champion, they would have shot themselves in the foot

Throughout last season, McLaren’s “papaya rules” were a frequent topic of debate. The team refused to designate a clear lead driver, resulting in Norris and Piastri often taking points off each other in the battle for the championship, a scenario that nearly played into Max Verstappen’s hands.

Ralf Schumacher told Formule 1 Magazine that McLaren managed their internal rules quite fairly. The German also had no issues with the team orders in Monza and Hungary. However, he added, “In Qatar, I was a bit surprised. If Verstappen had become champion, they would have shot themselves in the foot.”

Overall, Schumacher praised McLaren for treating their drivers equally, “But if I had been team principal — I admit it — from Qatar onward I would have favoured Norris over Piastri,” Schumacher concludes.

In the end — as we know — not appointing a lead driver didn’t matter. Norris still took the title, although the margin to Verstappen was small, two points.

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