After winning his first World Championship in 2025, Lando Norris has publicly apologized for "stupid" comments he made about Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The McLaren driver is using his new platform to emphasize respect for the legends of the sport as he prepares to defend his title in 2026.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has stated that the team will continue its existing competitive strategy between its two drivers, often referred to as “papaya rules,” despite public criticism and debate throughout the 2025 Formula 1 season. Brown clarified that fairness between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will remain a priority.
Oscar Piastri discussed what he learned from competing for the Formula 1 drivers’ championship in 2025. He said the season taught him about his performance both inside and outside the car and contributed to his understanding of how he competes under pressure. Piastri finished third in the championship standings.
Max Verstappen’s win in Qatar kept the 2025 F1 title fight alive and turned a strong McLaren weekend into a missed opportunity. Several drivers and teams left Lusail with momentum, while others lost points and confidence at a critical stage of the season.
Oscar Piastri won the Qatar sprint with ease, reducing his deficit to Lando Norris while Yuki Tsunoda supported Max Verstappen on lap one, took a penalty, and still secured fifth.
Oscar Piastri topped the only practice session in Qatar, while Red Bull failed to extract performance from the soft tyres. Max Verstappen placed sixth and Yuki Tsunoda fell to thirteenth after traffic and poor sector one execution.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says “unexpected severe porpoising” caused the plank wear that led to Norris and Piastri’s disqualification in Las Vegas. Both drivers lost major points, and Stella apologised as the title fight tightens with two races left.
From 2026, tighter financial regulations will make strategic power unit changes impractical. FIA officials explain why the current rules allow manipulation and how the new framework will remove that gap.












