Photo Credit: McLaren Formula 1 Team | Instagram
The 2025 Singapore Grand Prix solidified the Constructors Championship for McLaren Formula 1 team, but controversy was the silver lining outcome of the weekend.
“Papaya Rules” is thought to be one of the most smartest team implementations of the century; what started out as a fantastic ideation quickly turned into mayhem as the season progressed, with recent racing incidents between teammates Lando Norris (25) and Oscar Piastri (24) arguably becoming far from fair-play, and the original meaning of the famous papaya team orders.
Animosity has been growing between the pair, with team orders more-so favouring Brit team favourite over Aussie heartthrob, raising questions over who number one driver is.
Tension has been bubbling over the season, the Singapore GP was where the boiling point was finally reached – while the team achieved Constructors Championship for the second year in a row, Piastri allegedly wasn’t included in the initial team celebration, shortly prior to he was seen disconnecting his radio during contact with CEO Zak Brown.
An incident between teammates on track, early in the race, saw an aggressive manoeuvre from Norris, making slight contact with Piastri – the Melbournian went to the radio questioning the basis of Papaya Rules, deeming the move unfair.
Social media followers argued that team orders would have been approached, and even pursued, had the teammates been in reversed positions. It’s been painfully obvious for fans regarding the team rules that occur frequently; and it seems as though team orders has now caused a huge rift in the garage.
So, where does this alleged favouritism leave the teammates in their fight for the World Drivers’ Championship?
Industry professionals have speculated within commentary – but one thing for sure is that the gloves are off, and the fight is on. There is just a twenty-two points difference between the McLaren teammates, making it one hell of a battle to be had over the remaining six races of the season.
“Obviously it was a difficult race, a difficult first lap but, I’ve not seen the replay obviously – I just know the in car. So, I’ll go and have a look, but it’s a great night for the whole team. Obviously not the race I was looking for, but the whole team, tonight is a culmination of a lot of hard work over not just this year but lots of years,” Piastri said in the media pen.
“It’s a really proud moment for me to be apart of that and a proud moment for the whole team,”
When asked if he agreed with Brown’s statement – ‘our drivers race hard and they race clean’ , his response was a firm yes as confirmation, further highlighting the team player the Australian has been labelled under.
“I don’t think there was any intention of contact, but there was. And again, I need to look at the replay and see exactly what happened.”
The frustration was obvious with the current championship leader, an incident that shouldn’t have occurred unfortunately created further speculation amongst fans and the paddock, however Piastri was quick to oblige with the team and answer quite carefully, placing no blame on his teammate.
A reporter asked if team rules would change after round 18 of the season, but Piastri was calm and collected, “I don’t know. I’ve not seen the incident from the TV camera, so I need to look at that first before I make any comments.”
Norris was also questioned on the incident post race, “That’s racing.” he replied.
It’s up in the air whether the known Papaya Rules will change direction now the Constrictors Championship has been awarded, leaving it up to the drivers to fight over the remaining 6 Grand Prix’s of the 2025 season.
Until next time,
Tayla Talks
Tayla Talks 
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