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LANDO NORRIS’ PUNISHMENT DROPPED, MCLAREN PRIORITIZES VERSTAPPEN CHALLENGE

McLaren has dropped "repercussions" for Lando Norris after he clashed with Oscar Piastri, citing Max Verstappen's title threat. Team boss Andrea Stella says they now have a "clean slate" to focus on beating the charging Red Bull driver.

Lando Norris’ Punishment Dropped, McLaren Prioritizes Verstappen Challenge
McLaren Drops Norris Disciplinary Talk - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Given Max Verstappen's growing threat, McLaren has proposed doing away with Lando Norris' "repercussions."

Oscar Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen are separated by just 40 points in the drivers' championship with five rounds remaining in 2025.

After winning three of the last four races, the Red Bull driver is in the lead.

Piastri struggled to finish fifth at the US Grand Prix, indicating a decline in his recent form.

The British driver received some sort of sanction as a result of Norris's violent Lap 1 move on Piastri.

Piastri did, however, confirm that Norris' "repercussions" had been dropped ahead of this weekend's event in Mexico City.

According to McLaren manager Andrea Stella, Verstappen's performance compelled the team to begin with a "clean slate" for both drivers.

Stella told reporters in Mexico, "As always, we assess things, team, drivers, in a very transparent way, in a very positive way."

"We believed that starting again and concentrating exclusively on one goal—ensuring that papaya wins the championship—was the wisest course of action going forward.

"Everything else is less significant, and someone is approaching with a lot of speed.

"Our goal is to halt this momentum and restore it to the papaya side."

Red Bull's enhancements will be matched by McLaren.


Red Bull is still making improvements to the RB21.

The crew has adjusted the edge wing and floor body for this weekend.

Stella has supported McLaren's decision to halt car development for their MCL39 earlier this year.

When asked if McLaren could have matched Red Bull for enhancements, Stella responded, "The 2026 project would be substantially compromised."

"In the future, we hope to win titles. You need a competitive car if you want to win championships in the future. We have, in my opinion, been extremely thoughtful in devoting all of our resources to 2026.

Here, we must also make a technical remark. From an aerodynamic perspective, our car was already quite developed, and since we were at a plateau in our aerodynamic development, it would take us weeks to add one more point of aerodynamic efficiency, as we had done when we modified our car around Austria, Canada, and so on.

Every week, we add a significant amount of downforce to the 2026 car. You must thus call at that point using the best information you have. Additionally, we must remember that, as the champions, we are subject to the strictest rules regarding the CFD and wind tunnel allowances.

"We wanted to be pragmatic and switch our focus to 2026 since we were so far in the decreasing returns."

OSCAR PIASTRI VS LANDO NORRIS: MCLAREN EXTENDS EQUAL RACING POLICY DESPITE F1 CRITICISM

Despite past criticism, McLaren CEO Zak Brown confirms the "papaya rules" of driver equality will remain for F1 2026, backing the policy that secured their double title.

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McLaren Keeps Fair Policy for F1 2026

McLaren CEO Zak Brown hinted that the team will keep its papaya rules between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for the F1 2026 season.

This season, McLaren got their first drivers' and constructors' title double since 1998, keeping the teams' championship with six races left.

The team had to wait until the final race in Abu Dhabi to get the drivers' title, with Norris beating Red Bull's Max Verstappen by two points.

Norris's win made him the 11th British world champion and the first McLaren driver to win the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

McLaren had a policy of total fairness during the F1 2025 season, not supporting one driver over the other, even though Norris and Piastri both had good point advantages during the season.

The team's approach was often criticised, especially after the race in Qatar, where Piastri and Norris didn't pit under an early safety car.

At the time, Piastri and Norris were in first and third place, but they ended up finishing second and fourth after missing a free pit stop, while Verstappen won the race.

At the FIA's prize-giving gala on Friday, Brown said he was happy about Qatar and how McLaren won both titles by being fair to Norris and Piastri.

He also said that the policy would continue next season, saying it’s exactly what we plan to do in F1 2026.

He said, “A great season.

“Everyone at McLaren has done a great job, led by our two drivers.

“And thanks to the job Andrea has done leading our team.

“To go into the final race with two drivers fighting for the world championship, when everyone said that it was impossible, I’m just very proud of how McLaren went racing, and that’s what we plan to do next year.”

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said, “The drivers are the ones who do the job.

“They are the ones that deliver the results, the points, the wins, and the podiums, which made us the constructors’ champions.

“We are also very aware of how the drivers acted, allowing McLaren to go racing.

“That’s what we do—we go racing—and we did it with equality and fairness, so thank you to Lando and Oscar.”

NO IMPACT: HELMUT MARKO CONFIDENT MAX VERSTAPPEN SUCCESS WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT MENTOR

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko confirms his retirement, stating that four-time champion Max Verstappen is now independent and doesn't need his guidance.

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Marko Confirms Red Bull Exit After F1 Title Heartbreak

Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motorsport advisor, is sure Max Verstappen will be fine without him. He said his leaving won't have any negative effect on the Dutch driver.

After more than 20 years with Red Bull, Marko announced he would leave. The announcement came after the Abu Dhabi GP, which closed the season.

Marko, at 82, has seen it all in Formula 1. He says he still has the energy to keep going if he wants to.

Marko had thought about retiring if Verstappen tied the record with a fifth straight driver's title. But since Lando Norris beat the 28-year-old, he thinks now is still the right time to leave.

"I still have energy, but that's not the point," Marko told oe24. The point is to keep my enthusiasm and passion for the job. That's what I planned if we won the title.

Since we didn't win, I changed my mind and thought it should still apply now. You have to know when it's time to stop. I was the one in charge.

Marko and Verstappen had a strong relationship. However, the four-time world champion couldn't make a planned meal with Marko.

Max couldn't come to the dinner because of flight issues, Marko said. But we'll meet soon. I don't know if it will happen before Christmas.

Since Verstappen started in Formula 1, Marko has always been there to support him.

They became a strong pair. Marko knows that the Red Bull star doesn't need him anymore.

Things change, so you have to react differently. No one left here because of a fight. Max is old enough now, and he doesn't need anyone to explain things to him. Max is great—he doesn't need anyone.

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