McLaren CEO Zak Brown has revealed that the team plans to continue using the contentious ‘papaya rules’ into the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The Woking-based squad first faced comments over driver management in the 2024 season, following the introduction of ‘papaya rules’.
The radio message was a call for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to race each other with caution, in the hope of avoiding on-track clashes.
However, as the season progressed and the 2025 season got underway, ‘papaya rules’ were used to give the two drivers a level playing field.
But as Max Verstappen began to close in on Norris and Piastri in the championship battle, the team’s commitment to the call came into question.
Brown, though, maintained his belief that driver equality should be a priority, even willing to lose the Drivers’ title rather than sacrifice one of his drivers to help the other.
Going into the 2026 F1 season, the overhaul in regulations will leave the team’s competitiveness a mystery, but Brown maintains that the fundamental team approach will remain.
“Well, we’re definitely committed to giving both drivers equal opportunity to win the world championship,” Brown told media including Motorsport Week.
“I think you’re always, even when you win, on Monday you talk about what you could have done differently or better.
“So, we’re constantly evolving as a racing team, but the fundamentals of having two drivers that we give equal opportunity to win, that won’t change.”
McLaren still willing to improve despite title double
Despite McLaren dominating the opening stages of the most recent campaign, Brown urged that the team never got complacent and consistently worked to improve.
“Do we look back and have lots of learnings? I remember when we finished first and second in Spain, [in] our debrief on Monday, there were about eight things that were close calls that we could have done better,” he recalled.
“I think that’s the nature of a Formula 1 team, to always evaluate and go, ‘What could we have done differently? What could we have done better?’”
With Norris ensuring McLaren clinched a coveted championship double, Brown has taken the criticism that has come his and the team’s way in his stride.
“I think in sport, you’re going to win some, you’re going to lose some,” he added.
“Of course, when you’ve made mistakes, you wish you hadn’t, but that’s just not realistic. I’ve yet to see any person or team in any sport have the perfect season.
“So, we’re no different than that, but fundamentally, the way we go racing, that won’t change.”
READ MORE – Lando Norris: Oscar Piastri made me ‘dig deeper’ than Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren
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