Zak Brown has opened up on the meaning behind ‘papaya rules’ after Monza reignited the debate over whether team orders are needed at McLaren. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri went wheel to wheel on the opening lap of the Italian Grand Prix, with the Australian managing to barge his way past pole-sitter Norris and ultimately finish ahead of the Brit.
Norris is Max Verstappen’s closest rival in the drivers’ championship, and with the Dutchman struggling and coming home sixth, Monza could have been a golden opportunity for Norris to close the gap, which stood at 70 points before the race. His P3 finish coupled with the bonus point for fastest lap reduced that gap to 62 – but had he won, that would have been 52 points.
In allowing their drivers to fight, McLaren opened the door for Ferrari on Sunday, with Norris suffering a compromised exit from Turn 4 after being overtaken by Piastri, which in turn gave eventual race winner Charles Leclerc a run on Norris into the Lesmos.
All of that combined to set up Leclerc’s drive to his fairytale Monza win – with the team also opting not to switch their drivers on the final lap when it was clear that victory had gone, and thus ensuring another three points for Norris.