Papaya Rules: McLaren’s First Driver Predicament

McLaren has been at the top of their game for the past two seasons. After winning the 2024 Constructors Championship following a 26-year drought, the British-based team doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

McLaren claimed their ninth Constructors' title at the end of the 2024 season. Courtesy of McLaren.com.

The team has had at least one driver on the podium in every single race of the 2025 season so far, with Oscar Piastri currently leading the standings, followed closely by teammate Lando Norris.

All of this success is a huge climb from where the team used to be, but McLaren has one issue: choosing which driver to prioritize. “Papaya rules” was a significant component of the 2024 season, causing controversy both on and off the track. 

If the two drivers both achieve success for the rest of the season, McLaren will face an extremely difficult decision: which driver to prioritize.

So far, the team hasn’t had to make that choice, as the two drivers haven’t been battling each other in races as much due to qualifying in different positions in races. However, as the season progresses, it becomes clear that this could be a problem in the future.

Piastri is only in his third season and has already proven himself to be a driver to look out for. After achieving his first win during his second season and now topping the rankings this year, he possesses immense talent.

The Australian driver has made significant progress in his short time in Formula 1 already. Courtesy of McLaren.com.

Norris has been in the sport since 2019, and while it took longer for him to get his first win, it’s clear that he is a successful driver. While Piastri joined during the beginning of the team’s success, Norris had been through the rough patches, helping rebuild the team to what it is today.

Norris has been with McLaren since they were battling in the midfield. Courtesy of McLaren.com.

Last season, Piastri had to do what was best for the team and allow Norris to inch closer towards Max Verstappen in the championship. While it was of utmost importance to do what was best for the team and work towards a title, sometimes the team’s strategy didn’t seem to reflect that.

While they stressed the need for the British driver to have every chance to gain crucial points, there were times he was forced to compromise his race for his teammate. While any points earned are important, the decisions made at some races didn’t align with the team’s statement.

This isn’t the first time that a team has struggled with prioritizing certain drivers in Formula 1, as it’s happened throughout the years. Most notably with Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel in Red Bull, as the two were at odds during their time together as teammates.

Vettel (far left) and Webber (far right) were notorious for their battles and rivalry during their time as teammates in Red Bull. Courtesy of Red Bull Content Pool/ Getty Images.

Ironically, Webber is now Piastri’s mentor, and it seems his struggles in Red Bull have translated over to his prodigy. While the two McLaren drivers don’t seem to be at odds with each other personally, it has the potential to put a strain on their confidence and performance on track.

With Verstappen no longer dominating the sport like he used to, there is a real shot for another driver to take the trophy at the end of the 2025 season. McLaren seems to be the top contender for this opportunity, and both Norris and Piastri will be giving it their all to secure their first title.

Hopefully, there will be clearer communication moving forward, and McLaren will choose to do what’s best for the team while also paying attention to the efforts made by their drivers. There are still many races left in the season and a lot that can happen until the finale in Abu Dhabi.

McLaren has been a team to watch these past two seasons, and one of their drivers winning their first title would be an amazing way to wrap up the story they’ve been writing since their rebuild.

Edited by Reese Dlabach