At the Italian Grand Prix held at Monza, McLaren’s Lando Norris, who finished second in the race, was booed by parts of the crowd during the post-race podium. The incident occurred amid controversy surrounding McLaren’s internal team protocols, often referred to as the ‘papaya rules,’ which guided the interaction between Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri.
Former Formula 1 driver and steward Johnny Herbert believes the contentious team dynamics played a key role in the negative crowd reaction toward Norris, particularly after a race that involved disputed team orders between the two McLaren drivers.
Team Orders and Race Developments at Monza
Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, demonstrated dominant pace throughout the weekend, securing pole position with a new lap record before the race started. However, after Verstappen cut the chicane at the beginning, team instructions required him to relinquish the lead to Norris, who had initially gotten ahead. Verstappen complied, retook the lead shortly after, and maintained it to win.
Norris’s race was complicated when a slow pit-stop meant he lost track position to Piastri. McLaren had previously approved Piastri to pit first, a strategic move aimed to counter Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Despite Piastri defending his position on track, McLaren later ordered him to allow Norris to pass, restoring Norris to second place.
This switch of positions was met with mixed reactions, and during the podium ceremony, Norris was met with audible booing from certain fans.
Johnny Herbert Connects Booing to McLaren’s ‘Papaya Rules’
Speaking to a gambling platform, Johnny Herbert attributed the crowd’s negative reaction in part to McLaren’s internal guidelines between Norris and Piastri, known as the ‘papaya rules.’ He said,
“I’m sure there was a little bit of the papaya rules that came into play with McLaren, which prompted the booing.” —Johnny Herbert, Former F1 Driver and Steward
The term ‘papaya rules’ gained prominence in 2024 and refers to the informal framework governing fairness and competition between Norris and Piastri at McLaren.
McLaren’s Perspective on the Controversial Team Orders
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, addressed the situation by emphasizing the company’s commitment to fairness and respect within the championship. Speaking to various media, Stella explained that the pit-stop order adjustments and subsequent position swap aimed to preserve the team’s racing principles.
“The fact that we went first with Oscar, compounded by the slow pit-stop of Lando, then led to a swap of positions, and we thought it was absolutely the right thing to go back to the situation, pre-existing at the pit-stop, and then let the guys race. This is what we did, and this is what we think is in compliance with our principles.” —Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
Lando Norris’s Denial of the ‘Papaya Rules’ Label
Despite the spotlight on the so-called papaya rules, Norris denied the existence of any formal guidelines by that name. In an interview with DAZN, he stated,
“There are no papaya rules anymore,”
and further clarified,
“We’ve never had them.”
When asked if a similar document exists under different terminology, Norris confirmed there is a brief set of guidelines stressing fairness for both drivers.
“Yes. It’s not even a page long, actually. The important thing is it says: Fair. And this covers many things, fairness for me and for Oscar.”
He added,
“I don’t choose that these things happen. We don’t care what’s happened in the past, but we do what we think is right for us.” —Lando Norris, McLaren Driver
The Wider Reaction and Fan Support at Monza
Although Norris encountered a mixed reception, Max Verstappen remained very popular with the Italian tifosi, wining admiration for his outstanding performance across the weekend. Johnny Herbert recognized this enthusiasm, noting that Verstappen’s skill behind the wheel commands great respect.
“But chanting for Max, I think, is totally understandable,”
he said, adding,
“I think there’s a hell of a lot of respect for what Max does in the cockpit. Everybody can get wowed about it. I get wowed about it when we see those laps that he does.”
Herbert also reflected on the tifosi’s hopes, suggesting that many would welcome Verstappen driving for Ferrari in the future.
“Would the tifosi love to have Max in a Ferrari? I’m sure they and a lot of us would believe he’d probably make that difference.” —Johnny Herbert, Former F1 Driver and Steward
Implications for McLaren and the Championship
The episode at Monza highlights ongoing tensions within McLaren’s team dynamics and audience expectations. The use of team orders, particularly their management under so-called ‘papaya rules,’ remains a point of contention for fans and pundits alike. With Norris openly rejecting the formal existence of these rules, clarity about driver relations at McLaren will continue to be crucial as the championship progresses.
The booing incident further illustrates how passionate and divided F1 supporters can be, especially when internal team decisions appear to affect race outcomes. As the season advances, McLaren’s handling of Norris and Piastri’s rivalry will likely remain under close scrutiny, affecting both team morale and fan engagement.
