Jolyon Palmer says McLaren could change papaya rules for 2026 if Oscar Piastri helps Lando Norris in Abu Dhabi

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Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were both asked about the possibility of McLaren team orders at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This comes amid the threat of Max Verstappen snatching the title at the final race.

McLaren have not had a number one driver at any stage in 2025, but there are external calls for the team to back Norris, who is 12 points ahead of Verstappen and 16 clear of Piastri.

There could be a scenario, for example, where Verstappen is leading, Piastri is third and Norris is fourth in the closing stages. That would put the Red Bull driver on course for the championship.

Piastri would still be 14 points short in that situation, so McLaren would surely consider inverting their cars. The Australian wouldn’t confirm whether he would comply.

“It’s not something we’ve discussed,” said Piastri. “So, yeah. I mean, until I know what’s kind of expected… I don’t really have an answer.”

’50/50 situations’ could go Oscar Piastri’s way next year if he helps Lando Norris

Speaking on F1TV’s Weekend Warm-Up show, Jolyon Palmer told Piastri to play the long game if team orders are issued. McLaren would recognise that Norris was ‘100%’ champion because of his assistance.

This year, some ’50/50′ calls have fallen in favour of Norris. Piastri had to give up second place at Monza after his teammate’s slow pit stop, though he had been allowed to come in first.

In Singapore, Norris made contact with Piastri while passing him at the start, but was allowed to keep the place. McLaren imposed ‘repercussions’ for the British driver at the following race in Austin.

If he helps Norris win the title this weekend, McLaren, who consistently emphasise fairness, may repay Piastri by favouring him in these situations next year.

“It will actually help him next year, because in any of these Monza situations, the fairly 50/50 situations that we’ve debated over the year, maybe one or two of them will be given to Oscar, because Lando’s a champion,” Palmer explained.

“He’s a champion, 100%, because Oscar’s given him [help], if it boils down to team orders here.”

McLaren block media appearances for Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in Abu Dhabi

Norris and Piastri both appeared alongside Verstappen in a special title contenders’ press conference on Thursday. But aside from their contractual post-race duties, they won’t be doing any additional media this weekend.

As revealed by Rachel Brookes on ‘Paddock Uncut’, this is a deliberate choice from the team to maximise their drivers’ focus. By contrast, Verstappen conducted a lengthy interview with BBC Sport on Thursday.

One wonders if it also protects the team by giving the press fewer opportunities to bring up the awkward team orders issue.

“This is the only media that the two McLaren drivers are doing all weekend,” said Brookes. “The team are protecting them and want them to focus on the championship, so they’ve said no to any individual requests from any broadcaster around the world.

“Max is speaking to people and doing various bits throughout the weekend.”