McLaren “want to give it a go” at the Drivers’ Championship with Lando Norris, which could see their ‘papaya rules’ of engagement evolve.
McLaren’s rise to consistent front-running pace has placed Constructors’ Championship leaders Red Bull under major pressure with their Formula 1 dominance no more, but now, the Drivers’ Championship is slowly creeping into view also for Norris.
McLaren ‘want to give it a go’ with Lando Norris F1 2024 title push
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher and Sam Cooper
Red Bull managed only P6 and P8 at Monza with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez respectively, allowing Norris to trim Verstappen’s Drivers’ Championship lead again to 62 points with P3 and the fastest lap bonus point. However, McLaren’s rules of engagement between Norris and Oscar Piastri, referred to as the ‘papaya rules’, came under the magnifying glass again.
Piastri launched a brave move on Norris into the second chicane on Lap 1, getting the job done and taking the lead, though with Norris losing that position and then P2 to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Norris’ title quest was not helped with the Brit ultimately finishing P3 behind Piastri and race winner Leclerc.
But, with McLaren reviewing their ‘papaya rules’, team boss Stella has provided a major hint on what may be to come, as McLaren now sense that a Norris Drivers’ Championship push to complement their Constructors’ title charge could really be on.
Asked by media including PlanetF1.com whether there will be a stage where Norris is McLaren’s number one driver, Stella replied: “Well, already in our conversation, even before the race here, we acknowledge that Lando is in the best position from a Drivers’ Championship point of view.
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