McLaren has not changed the racing rules it imposes on its drivers after the pair collided at the Canadian Grand Prix, says Oscar Piastri.
The championship leader was hit by his team mate Lando Norris as they fought over fourth place at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Piastri held his position to the finish but Norris, who accepted blame for the collision, retired due to damage.The two drivers fought for position for several laps prior to their collision. Piastri said the team’s ‘papaya rules’ – its policy for how the pair may race each other on-track – will be “the same as always.”
“Obviously what happened in Canada wasn’t ideal,” he acknowledged. “But we’re still free to race, still fighting for a championship each, so we’ll keep going racing and make sure that obviously we don’t come into contact again.”
Piastri said the pair “spoke about it honestly before we even got back to the team” after the last race. “Lando put his hands up and apologised, so it’s all good and I’m looking forward to going racing again.”
Despite the clash Piastri remains convinced the team have the “correct approach” to managing their drivers. “It’s obviously a difficult one to navigate, but that’s a good problem to have in some ways,” he said.
Before the season began McLaren’s drivers told the team to prioritise fairness between the two of them.
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“The biggest and most important thing was just that things remain fair from as many aspects as you can,” he said. “Obviously there’s certain situations that are not always going to be completely fair, whether it’s strategy because there’s only one pit box or some other things. But I think that’s the biggest thing for both of us.
“Obviously the first rule, regardless of whether it is written down or not, is that the two cars from the same team don’t crash, so that’s the big thing. What we’ve done well this year before Canada is acknowledging that it’s a possibility. I think we dealt with it very well in Canada and since Canada.”
Piastri goes into the 11th round of the championship with a 22-point lead over Norris and a further 21 over Max Verstappen. He said he isn’t anywhere near being far enough ahead of his team mate to demand preferential treatment.
“I just want, and we all want to have a fair opportunity [while] trying to win both championships,” he said. “Especially in the drivers’ championship, because it ultimately can only be one of us.
“I think the situation has to change dramatically to start having those conversations. They’re a very long way away at the moment.
“At the moment all I can ask for is a fair chance to try and win the championship and that’s what I want as well. So no, I’m not willing to enter those talks at all.”
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Jere (@jerejj)
26th June 2025, 16:18
Nor was anything even going to change over a simply misjudgement & on a side note, Piastri used the word ‘obviously’ four times in the same interview.
Simon
26th June 2025, 16:36
Like you’ve used the same word – four times – in one sentence?
Jere (@jerejj)
26th June 2025, 19:18
I never use the word ‘obviously’ unless it’s for reference/quotation purposes solely because it’s the most overused word among F1 people basically forever.
Pat Ruadh (@fullcoursecaution)
27th June 2025, 9:51
For sure
glennb
27th June 2025, 4:16
Shumi was the master of obviously.
Leo B
26th June 2025, 18:04
Wonder who came up with that phrase “Papaya Rules”. I wouldn’t think it was the drivers or Stella. The finger points to Zak and no one but Zak.
Coventry Climax
26th June 2025, 18:44
So you don’t wonder after all? ;-)
Jere (@jerejj)
26th June 2025, 19:18
Leo B Will Joseph during last season’s Italian GP.
David (@nvherman)
26th June 2025, 19:56
And why is that an issue? He’s the CEO, he’s therefore in charge
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
27th June 2025, 11:19
Papa-ya Rules. Probably Zak.
Sergey Martyn
26th June 2025, 18:49
Looks like Lando mistook the word papaya for Popeye and acted like that character bashing other toons not thinking about any consequences.
David BR (@david-br)
26th June 2025, 19:52
I guess there are papaya rules and then there’s papaya driving (driving with all the finesse of an over-ripe papaya).
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
26th June 2025, 21:48
Ofc not. Wait until a real clash happens.