McLaren concede major 'difficulties' with vital Lando Norris-Oscar Piastri approach

McLaren boss Andrea Stella has conceded the team has faced "difficulties" with its 'let them race' approach for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. 

The so-called Papaya rules of driving engagement were tested once again in Singapore after Piastri felt aggrieved at Norris barging past on the opening lap, and his insistence that the place be given back, which McLaren did not choose to do. 

There have been minor flashpoints between the two drivers previously, most notably at the 2024 Hungarian GP when Norris eventually followed team orders to cede the lead to Piastri after a strategy call allowed him to undercut the Australian, and again at the 2025 Italian GP where Piastri followed a request to allow Norris back through following a slow pit-stop.

Now that McLaren has won the constructors' title, both drivers will turn their attention to claiming a maiden drivers' title crown, with Piastri enjoying a 22-point lead in the standings with 174 left up for grabs. 

Evaluating the situation, Stella explained how it was impossible for the team to have "exactly the same interest" for both drivers, whom he praised for developing the culture at the team.

"Every time we start our conversations with the drivers, we always remind ourselves as a premise that this is hard," Stella told media, including RacingNews365. 

"Because this is the only matter where you race together as a team, and actually, you can't have exactly the same interest for the two drivers who want to pursue their aspirations.

"This is a foundational principle of the way we go racing at McLaren. We want to protect the 'let them race' concept, but we know that as soon as you adopt this concept, you will face difficulties.

"But it is within this awareness and self-consciousness that we develop our conversations, and you need to be thorough and have integrity in approaching that, and I am very proud of the way Lando and Oscar have been part of that process so far.

"Because if we are able to navigate through these difficult parts of going racing, it is because we have Lando and Oscar onboard. They're great individuals and contributors, and that is why we've been successful so far.

"We will definitely work hard to make sure that this is true for the remainder of the season, and the years ahead in which we will keep racing with Lando and Oscar."