McLaren's Stella Reaffirms Fairness Policy for Norris and Piastri in 2026 F1 Season
McLaren's team principal, Andrea Stella, has confirmed that the team will continue its policy of pursuing rigorous fairness towards drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for the 2026 Formula One season. This commitment comes despite the approach last season allowing a late challenge from Red Bull's Max Verstappen, which nearly prevented McLaren from securing the drivers' title, ultimately won by Norris.
Admirable Approach Attracts Criticism
Last year, McLaren enjoyed the most competitive car for most of the season and insisted from the outset that their drivers would be free to race one another. The team applied what they referred to as their "papaya rules" to ensure scrupulous fairness to both Norris and Piastri in racing situations.
While this approach was admirable, it attracted criticism as the team found themselves dealing with increasingly complex precedents when they did intervene at times. Moreover, with the drivers taking points off each other throughout the year, it allowed Verstappen back into the title fight, which he lost by just two points at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Stella Confirms Continuation of Principles
Building up to the start of the new season, with a technical preview of their new car, the MCL40, at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Stella confirmed that the team would allow their drivers the same freedom to compete against each other this year. They will maintain their racing rules to ensure parity between Norris and Piastri.
"The concepts of fairness, integrity, equal opportunities, sportsmanship, they are all fundamental for the team, for Lando and for Oscar," Stella said. "So they are reaffirmed, they are confirmed and consolidated, if anything."
Close Fight and Strategic Decisions
Norris and Piastri engaged in a close fight across the season, with McLaren choosing not to favour one driver at an early stage. This decision, had it been taken differently, would almost certainly have ensured they closed out the drivers' title comfortably and at a far earlier point. However, Stella insisted that the team had done the right thing and would do so again.
"Once we reviewed what we have done, in most of the cases we said that's exactly what we would still do again," he said. "But we found a few opportunities in which we can streamline the way in which we operate collectively. Like I said, reaffirming the fundamental principles that we have adopted in the past."
Confidence Heading into New Season
McLaren will unveil the MCL40 on 9 February in Bahrain. Heading into the new season, even with a swathe of new regulations, Stella felt confident that they are in a good position to defend their constructors' and drivers' titles. He believes the team is as strong as he has ever seen since becoming team principal in 2023.
"The team enters 2026 in terms of competencies, capabilities, organisation, culture if anything, in the strongest position that I have witnessed since I'm team principal," he said. "We remain very confident that the wealth of capabilities, competencies, and the way we use them, thanks to our organisation and culture, will be a success factor in the long term."
