What Are McLaren’s ‘Papaya Rules’ in Formula 1?

‘Papaya rules’ are McLaren’s in-house code of conduct designed to keep harmony — and carbon fiber — intact when teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battle on track.

The term “papaya” nods to McLaren’s signature orange livery, and when engineers mention “papaya rules” over team radio, it’s a polite reminder: race hard, race fair, but don’t collide.

Team principal Andrea Stella says both drivers helped shape the code, which emphasizes equality — McLaren has no designated “number one” driver — and mutual respect under pressure. It’s an effort to balance fierce competition with team unity, especially now that McLaren have already clinched the 2025 Constructors’ Championship.

Still, with only 22 points separating Norris and Piastri in the title fight, the policy has become a flashpoint. Some pundits have urged McLaren to relax the rules and let the rivalry play out naturally.

CEO Zak Brown once summed it up simply: “Race him hard, race him clean — don’t touch.” Stella echoes that spirit, insisting the championship must unfold within McLaren’s shared “racing values.”