Ted Kravitz explains McLaren’s ‘papaya rules’ after Lando Norris given Monza team orders

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The Italian Grand Prix was the latest fascinating Grand Prix of the 2024 Formula 1 season and once again strategy played a key role in the final result.

McLaren started on the front row with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri and once again the Brit couldn’t lead the first lap of a race after starting on pole position.

Norris managed to hold off Piastri going into the first chicane, but the Australian caught him slightly off guard going into the second chicane to take the lead.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from height and parents to celebration

It compromised the 24-year-old to the extent that Norris lost out to Charles Leclerc as well and put him on the back foot.

Suddenly, McLaren were no longer in the comfortable position they thought they’d be in and team tactics had to come into play.

It meant the term ‘papaya rules’ was suddenly heard over the radio and reporting from the Italian Grand Prix pit lane for Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz shared what McLaren told him about the rules.

Norris would have been extremely frustrated that he couldn’t stay ahead of his teammate to give him a chance to win in Monza.

While McLaren were organising the tactics between their drivers, they failed to identify Ferrari’s potential counter-strategy that saw Leclerc cross the finish line first despite not having the quickest car.

McLaren’s ‘papaya rules’ explained after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri tussle at Monza

Once the ‘papaya rules’ message was sent, Kravitz explained: “I’ve asked around at McLaren, so the papaya rules are not only cut them open and they’re nice and juicy, it is actually the rules of engagement between the two drivers like we saw in Hungary.

“Do you remember, when one had to give the place back to the other, it’s a fairness between the two drivers and I think unfortunately for Lando what Will Joseph is saying there is that we’re going to have to do some things to protect Piastri’s lead with the Ferraris. That’s my interpretation.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

Later in the race, Kravitz added: “Just confirmation from McLaren, team rules, what they are, papaya rules, clear rules as to how Lando and Oscar can race each other.

“They are allowed to race within those agreed parameters. I wonder if that applied to the way they did on the first lap, I think it must have done as you said, it was fair play for Oscar.”

Journalist Chris Medland further added: “Norris is told: “You are allowed to race Oscar, ‘papaya rules’.

“That means leaving extra space than when racing another car.”

BBC Sport journalist Andrew Benson shared more information and said: “If one driver is helped by tactics to pass another driver from another team then it is not allowed to advantage the other.”

McLaren miss out on overtaking Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship

Red Bull had a day to forget with neither driver able to make the desired progress through the pack.

Nico Rosberg admitted that he’s worried about Red Bull’s chances but McLaren couldn’t capitalise to take the lead in the Constructors’ Championship.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

Piastri and Norris didn’t get close to one another in the race despite the ‘papaya rules’ warning with neither driver having perfect pit stops during the Grand Prix.

Leclerc gambled on a one-stop strategy and although Piastri was quickly catching him in the final laps, he was never in a position to try and overtake him.

The upcoming races in Baku and Singapore should still suit McLaren but they’ll know they need to be perfect if they’re going to win both titles.

For Norris, small errors are continuing to add up and that may make catching Verstappen before Abu Dhabi.