Zak Brown sets aside the ‘Papaya Rules’: “Yes to team orders to win the championship”. McLaren CEO Zak Brown confirms that the team will use team orders at Abu Dhabi GP .

The McLaren boss speaks clearly

No ifs or buts: the ‘Papaya Rules’ will follow a special version this Abu Dhabi weekend, where McLaren must secure the Drivers’ Championship even if it means resorting to team orders.

Zak Brown clarifies the strategy

McLaren CEO Zak Brown was straightforward: “We don’t know how qualifying will go, or the reliability, but if we get to the race and it becomes clear that one driver has a chance and the other doesn’t, we will do everything possible to win the Drivers’ Championship. It would be crazy not to,” Zak Brown told Sky Sports UK. “We’ll see how the race unfolds, but we will not lose the championship to protect any position.”

He continued, emphasizing the team’s unity: “I know it may sound a bit strange, but if one of the two can’t win, both want the other to win. And that’s what the team wants. They are team players, and we already saw this last year. I don’t think it’s unusual in any sport for teammates to make sacrifices for each other to give the team what it wants,” Zak Brown added, underlining that team orders will indeed be used in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

With Max Verstappen lurking and only a handful of points separating the top three, the stage is set for potential late-race drama under the Yas Marina lights – and McLaren has just confirmed it will pull every lever necessary to bring the crown back to Woking for the first time since 1998.