McLaren Reaffirms 'Papaya Rules' for 2026, Keeping Norris and Piastri on Equal Footing
Andrea Stella says the team will streamline procedures after a review as the MCL40 heads to its Barcelona shakedown.
Overview
- Stella confirmed McLaren will continue its equality-first 'McLaren way' in 2026 rather than appointing a No. 1 driver.
- The principles emphasize fairness, integrity and equal opportunities for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with routine team orders off the table.
- Both drivers have signaled support for the approach, with Stella citing ongoing, engaged discussions during the off‑season.
- The team identified operational workload from internal competition and plans targeted fine-tuning to make race management simpler.
- McLaren’s stance follows a season of scrutiny from pundits who argued the policy sometimes carried strategic costs.