Tough Luck, Piastri! McLaren Ready To Break 'Papaya Rules' To Seal F1 Title In Abu Dhabi GP

Last Updated:December 05, 2025, 15:34 IST

McLaren F1 boss Zak Brown may use team orders at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to help Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri win the drivers' championship over Max Verstappen.

McLaren are ready to break away from their 'Papaya Rules' to favour any driver who is in a winning position (X)

Papaya rules? More like Papaya roulette.

After a season spent preaching equality between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, McLaren boss Zak Brown has now admitted they will use team orders in the final race if it means stopping Max Verstappen from stealing the crown.

And that’s quite the U-turn from the man who earlier said he’d be “totally fine" watching Verstappen win the title if that’s what came from letting his drivers race freely.

Suddenly? Not so fine.

The Norris Priority Problem

Norris heads into Abu Dhabi with a 12-point lead over Verstappen. A simple podium — no matter what Verstappen does — bags him the championship. Piastri, meanwhile, sits 16 points behind Norris. Still mathematically alive, but hanging on by a thread.

For Piastri to win the title, he needs the stars to align:

• He must win with Norris P6 or lower, or
• Finish P2 with Norris P10 or lower and Verstappen no better than P4.

In other words, Piastri’s only realistic shot requires McLaren not to interfere in his race.

But Brown’s new stance makes that almost impossible.

“Papaya Rules"… Until They Don’t

“All year we’ve given them equal opportunity," Brown said.

But in the same breath, he said, “If it becomes pretty clear one has a chance, and the other doesn’t, we’re going to do what we can to win the drivers’ championship."

Translation: Help Norris. Compromise Piastri. Paper over the contradiction later.

It reeks of deja vu for the Australian. Remember Qatar? Piastri stormed to a Sprint victory and put himself in prime position, only for McLaren’s strategy and on-track preferences to tilt toward Norris during the Grand Prix — a moment that sparked conversations about whether equal treatment really existed.

Add Italy, where Piastri was ordered aside after Norris’ botched pit stop, costing him six points that now look monumental. The math says he’s still alive. The politics seemingly denote otherwise.

So Who’s Really Being Protected Here?

Brown insists the philosophy hasn’t changed — only the stakes.

“We’re not going to lose a championship because we tried to protect a third and a fourth," he said. “The goal is simple: win."

With McLaren chasing their first drivers’ title since 2008 and Verstappen chasing history, Sunday’s showdown may force the papaya squad into uncomfortable — but unavoidable — choices.

Piastri has raced like a title contender all year. But on the weekend where it matters most, he may end up playing rear-gunner instead of fighting for the crown he’s earned a right to chase.

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