Sep.8 (GMM) Max Verstappen stormed to a dominant victory from pole at Monza, but the spotlight quickly shifted to McLaren’s handling of its two title contenders.
The Dutchman, no longer a serious factor in the championship beyond mathematics, ended McLaren’s recent winning streak with a commanding drive. But behind him, Lando Norris triggered boos from the ‘tifosi’ after benefitting from a late-race ‘papaya rules’ team order to swap positions.
Piastri, leading only because Norris lost time in a botched pitstop, initially resisted over the radio. “We said a slow pit stop was part of racing, so I don’t know what has changed,” the Australian protested.
Once about to head onto the podium, however, his tune changed for the media.
“A little ‘in-chi-dent’ at the end, but that’s ok,” he laughed.
On the podium, Norris was jeered despite moving a few points closer to Piastri in the title fight. “I don’t know why,” he said. “I heard them. I hear the cheers louder than the boos, and that’s the most important.”
Norris also dismissed the notion of special “papaya rules” benefitting him.
“There are no papaya rules anymore,” he smiled to DAZN. “We never had them. The main thing is fairness.
“We don’t care what’s been done in the past – we do what we think is right.”
Asked how long McLaren’s ‘rules of engagement’ document is, he replied: “One page – I don’t think it’s even one page.”
Piastri accepted the team’s authority but hinted at lingering frustration. “I said what I had to say on the radio,” he admitted. “And once I got the second request, then I’m not going to go against the team.
“I think there’s a lot of people to protect and a culture to protect outside of just Lando and I. The radio call kind of says enough. I’m sure we’ll discuss it again.”
Norris, however, was clear. “The team is the priority. The team is number one, then the drivers are second. That’s how it works.
“Normally, when you see teams who don’t have enough respect for the team and the opportunities the team gives, it doesn’t normally last long.”
Verstappen himself laughed when told on the radio of the orchestrated swap. “I know you guys want a fun answer on that,” he told reporters afterwards, “but it’s not my problem.”
Later, he confided to Viaplay in his native tongue: “In my opinion, a bad pitstop can happen, just like an engine failure or a driver’s own mistake. That’s racing.
“So yes, I had to laugh a little about Oscar having to give up the position. I’ll leave it at that.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff warned McLaren may have created a dangerous precedent. “I think we’ll get an answer to what the right decision was later in the season when things get heated,” he said.
But team principal Andrea Stella was unrepentant.
“It’s not about right or wrong,” he told Sky Italia. “It’s about our philosophy and how we want to go about our racing. It had nothing to do with Lando’s technical retirement at Zandvoort.”
McLaren could wrap up the constructors’ crown in Baku.
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES