At Baku, McLaren could already claim its tenth F1 constructors’ title, becoming the second most successful team after Scuderia Ferrari. This year has been dominated by the MCL39 and numerous issues affecting competitors. In a season of absolute supremacy, the British team wants to use team orders (which arguably aren’t necessary) to maintain harmony between its two drivers.
Piastri and Norris face a unique opportunity
This year, McLaren’s success could extend to the drivers’ championship as well. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to win their first world title before the current regulation cycle ends. As Giacomo Leopardi would say, there are no certainties for tomorrow. 2026 represents a major unknown for all teams, and it’s far from guaranteed that McLaren can maintain this level of competitiveness.
It is crucial to seize an opportunity that may not come again in the near future. So far, there has been no rivalry between the two stars of the historic British team, in accordance with the so-called “Papaya Rules.” Team orders have always been clear: Rule #1 is to put the team’s interests ahead of individual drivers. In practical terms, racing is fine, but not if it risks harming the team itself.
An approach built on logic and ethics
This approach is certainly understandable if internal battles could somehow benefit a competitor. That’s the key point. This season, no rival has posed a genuine threat to the team led by Andrea Stella. So what is the purpose of this kind of “ethical doping,” through which McLaren seeks to correct potential team errors?
Let’s be clear: team orders make sense only when one of the two drivers is competing for the world championship. Without an external threat, can a slow pit stop justify a team order? Not really. From 2014 to 2016, Mercedes enjoyed a similar level of superiority to what McLaren shows this year, yet Toto Wolff’s team never issued team orders.
Still, Hamilton and Rosberg had plenty of on-track battles. The Austrian manager did ask Valtteri Bottas to give up a win for Lewis Hamilton in Sochi 2018, but back then Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel were real threats. Also, the Finnish driver was contracted as the second driver, without the capability to consistently beat the seven-time world champion.
McLaren will uphold team values
Piastri admitted that private discussions took place after Monza to avoid harming the team or becoming an easy target for competitors. His statement was somewhat cryptic for two reasons: why would internal team orders ever benefit rivals? His words suggest that some borderline situations were not fully understood.
Stella responded that internal management between Oscar and Lando will not change after winning the constructors’ title. The Italian team principal emphasized that team orders will always reflect the team’s values, which could be tested in the upcoming rounds, especially if the gap between the two drivers narrows. At that point, one of the drivers might even turn off the radio…
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