Carlos Sainz has come out in support of McLaren’s choice to maintain its strict in-house rules, despite growing pressure from Max Verstappen in the Formula 1 title fight.
McLaren has been proactive this season in managing its drivers to ensure what it deems a fair contest, even as both continue to lead the standings.
At Monza, the team instructed Oscar Piastri to move aside for Lando Norris following a slow pitstop, while in Singapore Norris was held responsible for an on-track clash.
This was a misstep that prompted the team to issue what it called “repercussions” towards Norris.
Having already sealed the Constructors’ Championship in Singapore, McLaren will continue to apply its internal “papaya rules” to prevent a repeat of costly incidents.
Sainz, who partnered Norris at McLaren from 2019 to 2020, believes the approach is justified given Red Bull’s recent resurgence and Verstappen’s return to form.
“It depends on the domination of the team,” he said.
“I think the Mercedes years were a perfect example of them being so dominant that they could afford to fight each other a bit more.
“I think whenever the championship can go away to a different team, a different driver, you need to respect that and be a bit more careful.
“Even if the teams don’t say that, the drivers’ championship is something that a team wants.”
Sainz added that in a title fight this close, discipline within the McLaren garage is essential.
“It doesn’t matter who the other driver is,” he said.
“If a championship can go for the team and the driver, and you have two drivers fighting for it, and there’s one guy that can take it [away], it does matter if it’s Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen or Charles Leclerc, you want the championship for your two drivers, so you want to keep them relatively under control.”
Gasly argues McLaren should give drivers freedom
However, not everyone agrees that McLaren should continue to restrict its drivers’ freedom.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly argued that, with the Constructors’ title already wrapped up, the team should now allow Norris and Piastri to fight unrestrained.
“I think it’s fair, as long as the Constructors is not sealed, that the team is taking all the precautions necessary,” Gasly countered.
“But I think from this point on I think we’ll all be happy to see them race freely with each other. We’re talking about a World Championship.
“You want it to be decided in the cockpit and on the racetrack without really any directions from anything external. So hopefully that’s what we’re going to see.
“But everybody’s got their view on it. I think from a drivers’ point of view, you always want to race free and that’s what I wish for both of them.”
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