McLaren delivers crucial verdict on papaya rules approach for 2026 season

08:00, 22 Jan

bySamson Ero

Andrea Stella has confirmed that McLaren will conduct a “thorough review” of its racing approach for both drivers ahead of the 2026 season.

“We received quite a lot of feedback during last season. We had conversations after the season.”

- Andrea Stella

The team principal, speaking at a team event attended by GPblog, touched on the possibility of certain modifications to the papaya rules. Stella signalled McLaren’s openness to reviewing its team orders while maintaining a focus on performance.

“I can certainly say that, like with anything we approach at McLaren, we go through a thorough review process so that we can see where the opportunities to improve are. This was the same for what we call the racing principles and the way we approach racing and internal competition,” Stella began.

The McLaren team principal continued by admitting to having received extensive feedback about its approach to driver management, but emphasised McLaren’s commitment to fairness and providing both drivers with equal opportunities.

Andrea Stella and Lando Norris - Photo: Race Pictures

“We received quite a lot of feedback during last season. We had conversations after the season, and we are having discussions pretty much as we speak now.”

“All of this has led us to reaffirm, fundamentally, as I said before, that the concepts of fairness, integrity, equal opportunities, and sportsmanship are all fundamental for the team, for Lando [Norris], and for Oscar [Piastri].

"So they are reaffirmed, confirmed, and consolidated, if anything,” he explained.

Stella added that simplifying the team’s approach to racing would be welcomed, given the workload involved in managing internal competition.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri - Photo: Race Pictures

“At the same time, we all acknowledge that the volume of work required, for instance, for the team and, to some extent, even for the drivers, related to internal competition, was significant. Therefore, any attempt we can make to simplify the process of going racing together will be welcome,” he said.

However, the team principal concluded by clarifying that, in most cases, the team’s approach will only require fine-tuning rather than major changes.

“In reality, it will be a matter of fine-tuning, because once we reviewed what we have done, in most cases we concluded that this is exactly what we would still do again.

"But we have found a few opportunities to streamline the way we operate collectively, while still reaffirming the fundamental principles we have adopted in the past,” he concluded.

The McLaren team’s papaya rule approach was in the spotlight on several occasions throughout the previous campaign. The Woking-based outfit opted to stick to its approach throughout the entire season.

Piastri backs Papaya rules

Previously, McLaren driver Piastri backed the team’s papaya rule approach. The Australian, in his assessment, highlighted how the approach has ensured he and Norris race each other better.

Piastri also noted how the set rules have overall improved the nature of his on-track, wheel-to-wheel racing.

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