Photo: Race Pictures

Norris silences doubt over 'papaya rules': 'Things don't change'

08:17, 19 Sep

Updated: 09:40, 19 Sep

byOlly Darcy

Lando Norris has explained that he and teammate Oscar Piastri are "free to race" at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after team orders dominated the headlines after Monza.

That's how it's always been, and that's how it continues to be.

- Lando Norris

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Monza | Photo: Race Pictures

A potential title-winning weekend for the British team is right in front of them, as McLaren comes into Azerbaijan with the chance to seal their second straight constructors' championship with seven races remaining.

After 'papaya rules' was once again a talking point at Monza, questions have been asked about whether the two McLaren drivers will be allowed to race each other this weekend at the Baku City Circuit.

"For 99% of things, of course, how things then look because of something that happened last weekend, gives everyone a very different opinion or oversight on things," stated Norris.

"But if you make it as simple as how we've done, it is as simple as… What happened in Hungary last year was a very similar thing, where the driver in the lead had priority in a pit stop sequence. That's exactly what it was entering last weekend, that things don't change.

"But, the fact is, as soon as we re-established the position, Oscar could race me freely," continued the Brit.

"So he had the advantage of starting, basically, on my gearbox and trying to race me. So he still gained overall.

"But, otherwise, we've been free every time to race. It’s just one lap of a pit sequence when the lead driver always has priority, and that's how it's always been, and that's how it continues to be. But otherwise, like we said, we're free to race," concluded the 25-year-old.

Moving away from Monza team orders?

At the Italian Grand Prix, 'papaya rules' were brought into play once again after Oscar Piastri's earlier pit stop, protecting the Australian from the undercut from Charles Leclerc behind.

As a result of the stop a lap earlier, along with a slow pit stop for Norris himself, the Brit came out behind his teammate, similar to how the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix played out.

Piastri was asked to let Norris back through over the team radio, with the Australian obliging, allowing the two of them to continue racing. However, the enforcing of 'papaya rules' led to some boos coming from the Tifosi during the podium celebrations.

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