Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is adamant he wouldn’t have put up with McLaren’s “nonsense” ‘papaya rules.’
As McLaren realised it had an outside chance at the Drivers’ title with Lando Norris mid-way through the 2024 F1 campaign, it introduced ‘papaya rules.’
‘Papaya rules’ is McLaren’s way of telling Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri to keep things clean.
Norris’ Race Engineer Will Joseph told Norris ‘papaya rules’ over team radio after Piastri mugged the Italian Grand Prix pole sitter with an aggressive Lap 1 move at Monza.
That move arguably cost Norris a shot at victory when Verstappen could only finish sixth, leaving crucial points on the table in his ill-fated title quest.
Many outsiders were perplexed by ‘papaya rules,’ including Verstappen who told Viaplay ”This is another nonsense quote.
“What is that referring to? Papaya rules… I have no use for that at all,” he added.
“When I’m told that by my engineer, I immediately say, ‘Just shut up.’
“What is that supposed to mean?
“‘You’re allowed to race‘. They should have solved all that much easier and better as a team.”
McLaren ‘has a lot to learn’ to fight for Drivers’ title, says Max Verstappen
Norris’ challenge to Verstappen’s throne ultimately went unrewarded.
Losing out to team-mate Piastri on Lap 1 at Monza was one such example that proved costly for Norris, who yielded just three of his four victories in 2024 from pole positions, of which he had eight.
Verstappen meanwhile, capitalised at the start of the season when his Red Bull was at its most competitive, winning seven of the first 10 races.
The Dutchman added two further victories as Red Bull encountered problems in the latter half of the campaign when McLaren arguably had the strongest package.
“[McLaren] had a very good car this year,” Verstappen noted.
“Only I think it’s also clear that they still had a lot to learn to compete consistently.
“Of course, they did well in the Constructors’ Championship.
“But for the Drivers’ Championship they could have prepared it much better as well.”
For Verstappen and Red Bull, having won three Drivers’ titles together gave them the experience to successfully attain a fourth successive crown.
McLaren had the solace of winning its first Constructors’ title in 26 years thanks to Norris’ victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP and the British driver made his intentions for next year clear in parc ferme.
“We want to win the Drivers’ next year,” Norris said.
“I made my mistakes this year, but I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve learned a lot from Max and my competitors around me.
“As much as I’m happy now, I’m excited to get next year going.”