Oscar Piastri said McLaren have axed their controversial ‘papaya rules’ with Lando Norris all but out of contention for the drivers’ championship, apart from a few unlikely scenarios where team orders will still apply.
Norris gave up victory in Hungary for Piastri when he still had a shot at the title and the Australian’s robust move for the lead in Monza also cost a potential win, though he did return the Hungarian favour in the Brazilian GP sprint.
Confusion between both drivers and the McLaren pitwall over the specific details of papaya rules has been a theme throughout 2024 but Piastri had a clear answer when asked whether team orders have been scrapped from the Las Vegas GP onwards.
“Pretty much, yes,” Piastri told the media. “There’s still some, let’s say very specific scenarios where I might be needed to help out, but for the very large majority of situations, it’s back to how it was.
“The drivers’ championship picture is very slim, and the constructors’ championship is certainly not over for us. it’s certainly not a done deal, so that’s definitely the biggest thing.
“And there’s a very specific few scenarios that maybe I’ll still help out if that’s what I’m asked to do, but I’m going into the weekend trying to, trying to win. So overall it’s a bit different now than let’s say Brazil.
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“I’m happy that we don’t have to go into those kind of things as much anymore and obviously next year I want to make sure that I’m not in the position championship-wise to be subject to that, but in reality I needed to help out that one time in in Brazil and that’s been it.”
Piastri gunning for F1 title in 2025
Piastri‘s first two seasons in F1 have been similar to Norris‘ start to life at McLaren alongside Carlos Sainz – albeit fighting higher up the grid as Woking’s output has improved.
Both drivers improved strong weekends with increased frequency and recorded headline results on the rostrum but finished behind their more experienced and consistent teammate in the drivers’ championship in their freshman and sophomore seasons, and Piastri said a tilt at the title – and escaping McLaren team orders – was the obvious next step in his third year of F1.
“That’s certainly the hope going to next year,” Piastri added. “Of course, it’s largely dependent on what the car is like.
“But if we have a car similar to what we have now from the start of next season then yeah, for sure going for the championship is the main target and I feel like I have all the tools now.
“It’s just a case of getting them all together, I feel like there’s been flashes here and there. There’s been a few weekends where I feel like I’ve pretty much hooked them all up, and those have been the races where I’ve I’ve won or or had really good results.
“But there’s also been weekends where I’ve not capitalised as much. It’s a very different feeling though from the first season where I had good weekends, but still some holes and some weekends where I really struggled.
“Whereas this year it’s been some things have maybe not gone well, and then you’re kind of stuck because of qualifying or whatever but you know that the potential is always there, so that’s exciting for next year.”
