Overview
- Speaking on the Red Flags Podcast, David Coulthard criticized McLaren for tasking race engineers Will Joseph and Tom Stallard with delivering orders to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
- He argued that “move over” or “hold position” calls should be issued by the team principal or sporting director to preserve trust between drivers and their engineers.
- McLaren has confirmed former Red Bull strategist Will Courtenay as sporting director, and commentators note his role could take on responsibility for sensitive instructions, though no protocol change has been announced.
- The debate follows McLaren’s title-winning 2025 season, when ‘papaya rules’ produced flashpoints including collisions in Canada and Singapore and a Monza pit-stop swap that cost Piastri track position.
- Coulthard cited past McLaren practice of using sporting director Dave Ryan for such messages and said he believes the team provides equal machinery despite perceptions of favoritism toward Norris.