Max Verstappen SLAMS McLaren’s ‘useless’ Papaya rules
Max Verstappen took a direct jibe at the 'papaya rules' enforced by McLaren in the 2024 season for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
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Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)
McLaren put forth the best performance amongst all the teams on the grid in the 2024 season. They breezed past Red Bull in the constructors’ standings and emerged victorious, first time in over two decades. Such a feat wasn’t possible without the two drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri racing each other under ‘Papaya Rules’. However, the world champion Max Verstappen was having none of it as he slammed these rules.
Max Verstappen kept up with performances in the 2024 season despite racing in a mediocre chassis. The Dutchman won his fourth world championship in the 2024 season without the need for any such rules enforced by Red Bull. Verstappen reckoned that the Papaya Rules were nonsense and totally useless to him if he heard that during a race.
This is another nonsense quote. ‘Papaya Rules’ – that’s totally useless to me.
Max Verstappen told Viaplay.
Verstappen showcased great communication and relationship with his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase throughout the 2024 season. Hence, the Dutchman joked that if he heard about such rules from his race engineer he would immediately ask the latter to ‘shut up’. The 27-year-old reiterated that such rules from a team were ‘nonsense’.
If I heard that from my engineer, I’d tell him to just shut up immediately. What kind of nonsense is this?
Max Verstappen added.
Max Verstappen tears McLaren’s ‘Papaya Rules’ apart in ‘nonsense’ verdict:
— This is Formula 1 (@ThisIsFormu1a1) December 17, 2024
— Max Verstappen criticized McLaren’s in-house term “Papaya Rules,” dismissing it as unnecessary and unhelpful in managing team dynamics:
“This is another nonsense quote. ‘Papaya Rules’ – that’s totally… pic.twitter.com/zvMHTCKHRW
Max Verstappen suggested an alternate way to communicate such rules
Max Verstappen put forth his straightforward attitude while berating McLaren’s papaya rules in the 2024 season. The Dutchman suggested that the team could’ve simply used phrases such as ‘you are allowed to race’. This would’ve been more effective and easier for the drivers to comprehend during intense moments of racing.
‘You’re allowed to race’ is fine, you know, they could have solved this in a way easier and better way as a team.
Max Verstappen noted.
Regardless of Verstappen’s beliefs, McLaren’s method helped them conquer the constructors’ championship in the 2024 season. As a result, Woking is highly likely to stick to the method that has been proven to work. Red Bull on the other hand must work on their pace and ensure a better start to the 2025 season.
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Aditya Pandya
(1388 Articles Published)