McLaren CEO Zak Brown has addressed the topic of team orders concerning Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as they prepare for the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park this weekend. With the 2026 Formula 1 season kicking off in Melbourne, McLaren enters as the reigning team champions, while Norris returns to defend his drivers’ title, which he secured in a hard-fought 2025 season against Max Verstappen and Piastri.
The Origins of McLaren’s ‘Papaya Rules’ and Past Incidents
Last year’s championship battle between Norris and Piastri was marked by intense competition within McLaren, governed by what became known as the ‘Papaya Rules,’ which allowed the teammates to race each other without restrictions. However, the system drew criticism, notably after Norris appeared to make contact with Piastri during the Singapore Grand Prix without receiving penalties. At the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, McLaren intervened by instructing Piastri to hold position and avoid challenging Norris.
Team Orders to Continue in Melbourne
When asked by Planet F1 whether McLaren would issue a similar directive in this weekend’s race, Brown confirmed the same approach would be taken. He explained that although the drivers are generally free to compete, situational factors can require caution.
“The identical thing would happen. And let me explain. They were free to race. If you look at what was happening in the race, we didn’t know if it was going to be wet or if it was going to be dry. You got Oscar coming up on Lando. We’ve got a good lead. We don’t know if we need to finish on these tyres. The track’s half wet, the track’s half dry. They’re coming up on traffic.”
?Zak Brown, McLaren CEO
Brown clarified the rationale behind the decision, emphasizing a cautious approach rather than one focused solely on intra-team rivalry.
“It was hit the pause button. It was not stop. It was hit the pause button. You saw what happened not long after, both our guys went off so it was very tricky conditions.”
?Zak Brown, McLaren CEO
“So being free to race doesn’t mean that there’s not going to be points in a race where you have to assess what’s going on. So that was less about the competition. Had nothing to do with the competition about Lando and Oscar. We didn’t want to put both our cars at risk, not yet knowing how the weather and the track conditions were going to play out.”
?Zak Brown, McLaren CEO
Addressing Criticism of Team Orders
Brown also responded to critics who have expressed dissatisfaction with McLaren’s use of team orders, insisting that the strategy is reasonable and grounded in the need for risk management during unpredictable race conditions.
“We’ve said that 100 times. To me, it makes perfect sense. I don’t understand why people once we’ve explained it, I get the heat of the moment when you’re watching the broadcast, but we’ve explained it, and I think what’s just come out of my mouth makes perfect sense.”
?Zak Brown, McLaren CEO
“It was hit the pause button so we can see how this race plays out, and then you can go back to racing, which is exactly what we did. So I think that’s a good example of some people needing to be more informed about how a race plays out.”
?Zak Brown, McLaren CEO
Implications for the 2026 Season Opener
As McLaren prepares to launch their title defense in Melbourne, the confirmation of similar team orders indicates a continued emphasis on carefully balancing aggressive competition with risk control. Given the unpredictable weather and mixed track conditions, Brown’s strategy aims to protect both Norris and Piastri while maintaining their advantage in the championship race. How this cautious approach will influence the dynamic between McLaren’s drivers early in the season remains a significant point of interest for fans and analysts alike.
