McLaren explains final decision over controversial Lando Norris-Oscar Piastri team orders

McLaren boss Andrea Stella has explained the team's decision not to change its controversial 'papaya rules' heading into the 2026 season. 

As Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri fought for the 2025 title, flashpoints occurred at Monza and in Singapore, with the racing guidelines between the pair called into question.

Both drivers, and the team claimed that the coverage around 'papya rules' was overblown, but in the United States, Piastri claimed that Norris had received "consequences" for barging past and making contact in Singapore on the opening lap.

Ultimately, Norris went onto win the title following a late collapse in form for Piastri, with McLaren securing back-to-back constructors' titles for the first time since 1990-1991. 

Looking ahead to the new season, team principal Stella is following a firm 'if it isn't broke, don't fix it' mantra.

"First of all, the way we approach racing, we talked last year quite a bit about internal racing at McLaren, so let me say from that point of view, we will enter 2026 with continuity," Stella told media, including RacingNews365.

"We will keep racing the McLaren way. If we have been able to achieve success in 2024, and then in 2025, what has added extra value to what we have achieved is the way in which we have achieved it in such a collaborative, supportive and cohesive way with our drivers.

"I've actually come straight from a meeting with Oscar, and before I was having lunch with Lando, and I was particularly pleased to see how energetic, proactive and full of ideas [they were].

"But also full of support to the way we have gone racing, the McLaren way, in the past, so that is the perspective of going into 2026 racing from a team point of view."