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Oscar Piastri Explains The Reality of McLaren's Papaya Rules In F1 Championship Fight Against Lando Norris

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated Aug 14, 2025 5:18 PM ET

McLaren couldn’t have scripted this season much better. They’ve got a car that looks untouchable, a true rocket on wheels and behind the wheel are two of the brightest young stars in Formula 1, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Week after week, the pair have been pushing each other to the limit, turning the title race into an all-out intra-team showdown. But while the battle for supremacy is heating up, Piastri recently let slip that McLaren have laid down just one, very specific rule for their championship duel to ensure that the interests of the team are prioritized.

While speaking to Autosport, Piastri said, “There’s been a lot more made out about papaya rules than what there actually is. It’s literally one rule which is don’t crash into each other. That’s an unsaid rule in every team.”

Piastri said McLaren have always been upfront about how they approach racing, and that avoiding surprises for the drivers is a big part of it. In his view, things get messy when something unexpected gets thrown their way, so clear communication has been a real strength for the team.

| Oscar Piastri has explained how 'papaya rules' has impacted the championship battle:

"There’s been a lot more made out about papaya rules than what there actually is. It’s literally one rule which is don’t crash into each other. That’s an unsaid rule in every team.

"We’ve…
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) August 14, 2025

Going into this season, they knew that if the car was just a bit better than last year’s, they’d be in the fight for both the constructors’ and drivers’ titles and that it would likely be him and Norris battling for it. That’s why they talked it through early on. While there will still be unpredictable moments, Piastri feels they’ve done everything they can to stay ahead of problems rather than scrambling to react.

A Closer Look at the Title Picture

As things stand, Max Verstappen’s hopes of staying in the title hunt are all but gone. Right now, it’s a straight-up McLaren showdown between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Fourteen races in and heading into the summer break, Piastri holds a slim nine-point lead with six wins and 12 podiums. Norris isn’t far behind just one win shy but matching him on podium finishes.

It’s been almost dead even between the two all year, but Norris found his groove right before the break, winning two of the last three races to slash Piastri’s lead which he’d held for a while. In a title fight this close, the smallest details and a bit of luck—can make all the difference. As we gear up for the second half of the season, the big question is whether both drivers can keep it clean and stick to McLaren’s “papaya rules” all the way through.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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