McLaren CEO Zak Brown has said the team is remaining committed to giving both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri \u201cequal opportunity\u201d at the team, after a question on its \u2018papaya rules\u2019 policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The much-discussed quest for parity was a key talking point in the 2025 season, and Brown confirmed the team\u2019s way of working would continue into next season.<\/p>\n
McLaren boss: \u2018The way we go racing, that won\u2019t change\u2019<\/p>\n
Having first been used on team radio, McLaren\u2019s \u2018papaya rules\u2019 essentially look to give both Norris and Piastri as level a playing field as possible to perform, though questions were raised about that approach when Max Verstappen closed in on both drivers towards the end of the season.<\/p>\n
Brown previously said the team would sacrifice the Drivers\u2019 title to a chasing driver if it meant ensuring parity among its drivers while both had a chance of glory for themselves, but it was ultimately Norris<\/a> who would emerge from 2025 as World Champion for the first time.<\/p>\n The regulation reset in Formula 1 in 2026 leaves question marks about which teams will be in the running for the title this time around, but Brown confirmed the team\u2019s fundamental approach to managing its drivers will stay the same next season.<\/p>\n More on the huge upcoming regulation changes in Formula 1<\/p>\n F1 2026 tech analysed: The future of overtaking and biggest car advantage identified<\/a><\/p>\n F1 2025 vs F1 2026: Nine key questions ahead of massive regulation changes<\/a><\/p>\n Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we\u2019re definitely committed to giving both drivers equal opportunity to win the world championship,\u201d Brown told PlanetF1.com and other accredited media in Abu Dhabi when asked if McLaren\u2019s approach had paid off.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you\u2019re always, even when you win on Monday, you talk about what you could have done differently or better.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, we\u2019re constantly evolving as a racing team, but the fundamentals of having two drivers that we give equal opportunity to win, that won\u2019t change.<\/p>\n \u201cDo we look back and have lots of learnings? You know, I remember when we finished first and second in Spain, [in] our debrief on Monday, there were about eight things that were close calls that we could have done better.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s the nature of a Formula 1 team, is to always evaluate and go, \u2018What could we have done differently? What could we have done better?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI think in sport, you\u2019re going to win some, you\u2019re going to lose some. Of course, when you\u2019ve made mistakes, you wish you hadn\u2019t, but that\u2019s just not realistic. I\u2019ve yet to see any person or team in any sport have the perfect season.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, we\u2019re no different than that, but fundamentally, the way we go racing, that won\u2019t change.\u201d<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Mat Coch and Thomas Maher<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n