Oscar Piastri has confirmed that McLaren has officially rolled back its ‘Papaya Rules’ team orders, allowing him to race independently and pursue victories alongside teammate Lando Norris.
In a bid to assist Norris in his fight for the drivers’ championship, McLaren had previously enlisted Piastri to support his teammate, most notably by sacrificing his own chances when necessary. This included Piastri stepping aside in the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint race and the main event at Interlagos, in order to maximize Norris’s points haul in his championship challenge against Max Verstappen.
However, with Norris’s title hopes now effectively dashed following Verstappen’s victory in Brazil, Piastri revealed that McLaren’s strategy has shifted, freeing him to race for his own results. While he acknowledged that he might still be called upon to assist Norris in certain specific situations, Piastri emphasized that the team’s primary focus is now on securing strong results in the Constructors’ Championship.
When asked by Autosport if the ‘Papaya Rules’ had changed, Piastri confirmed, “Pretty much, yes. There are still very specific scenarios where I might be needed to help out, but for the majority of situations, it’s back to how it was before.”
“The drivers’ championship picture is very slim, and while the constructors’ championship is still up for grabs, that’s where our focus is now. So, I’m going into the weekend aiming to win races,” Piastri added.
Although Piastri did not express dissatisfaction with helping Norris in the past, he stated that he now feels more motivated and focused with the freedom to chase personal victories. Reflecting on his experience in Brazil, where he relinquished his sprint race win to Norris, Piastri said, “I wasn’t disappointed with giving that up. I would have loved to win the sprint, but qualifying on pole was more satisfying for me. I proved what I wanted to prove to myself.”
Looking ahead, Piastri is determined to avoid team orders next season by securing a strong championship position. “Next year, I want to make sure I’m not in a situation where I have to help out,” he said. “But in reality, I probably needed to help once in Brazil, and that’s been it. It’s been a lot of talk but not much on-track action.”
With McLaren’s change in approach, Piastri now enters the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix with the full freedom to compete for his own success, marking a significant shift in his role within the team.
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