Max Verstappen has vowed that he wouldn’t be susceptible to McLaren’s “papaya rules” in the team as he “wouldn’t be close in points” to his team-mate in Formula 1.
McLaren’s racing rules have come under the microscope again amid Lando Norris’ revelation that he will deal with unnamed “repercussions” across the last six races.
That’s arisen since a review into an incident last time out in Singapore, where Norris incensed Oscar Piastri when he made contact with his team-mate on the first lap.
McLaren elected not to swap the places despite Piastri’s repeated remonstration on the team radio, though Norris has since admitted the team held him accountable.
The dispute succeeded another moment that proved divisive in Monza, when Piastri adhered to an order to cede a position that Norris lost through a sluggish pitstop.
Verstappen has claimed that McLaren’s desperation to ensure that things remain equal between the two leading title protagonists has complicated the internal battle.
“If you leave the door slightly open like Oscar did in Singapore, then you might end up in a situation like that,” Verstappen told media including Motorsport Week.
“But on the other hand, they kind of created this themselves by trying so hard to make everything equal with certain actions.”
Verstappen insists title battle can’t be managed equally
Verstappen, who still boasts an outside title chance, 66 points behind Piastri, has suggested that McLaren should stop endeavouring to micro-manage each situation.
“You know, a championship is never 100 per cent fair when it comes to certain moments,” the Dutchman added.
“Sometimes you get a bad pit stop, sometimes an engine breaks.
“You can’t really balance that out, I think. They see it differently at McLaren, but this is my opinion. It’s very difficult – and that’s what sometimes leads to frustration.”
Put to him that he would ignore requests such as the one McLaren gave to Piastri at last month’s Italian Grand Prix, Verstappen argued he wouldn’t be in that position.
“No, but then we probably wouldn’t be that close in points anyway,” he contested, intimating that he would have a larger lead had he been driving the MCL39 in 2025.
“Then, automatically, it wouldn’t be an issue. You just have to try and make sure you don’t end up in a situation like that.”
READ MORE – Oscar Piastri makes McLaren confession over Singapore clash
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