'Papaya rules' can derail Lando Norris as Singapore clash threatens McLaren drivers' split

Lando Norris has admitted that there will be “repercussions until the end of the season” after his costly clash with teammate Oscar Piastri in Singapore, a rare but telling moment of pressure that threatens to define McLaren’s championship battle.

The Lap 1 contact between the two papaya cars was not only a breach of trust within the team, but a direct violation of the internal “papaya rules” that stress cooperation above all else when fighting for titles.

Norris has since accepted responsibility, but the incident has placed him under an unwanted spotlight heading into Austin. The mistake could hardly have come at a more delicate stage of the season. Piastri still leads the championship by a slender margin, with Norris and Max Verstappen both close behind.

The trio are locked in a fierce fight where each point is critical, and in such conditions composure often becomes more valuable than outright speed. Yet in Singapore, Norris appeared to let the nerves get the better of him, squeezing Piastri too aggressively in a move that looked more like desperation than strategy.

It is the kind of unforced error that championship winners almost never make. Verstappen, in particular, has built his reputation on handling tense situations with cold precision, rarely getting entangled in unnecessary scraps — let alone with his own teammate. That contrast is becoming more pronounced as the season enters its final stretch. Where Verstappen looks ice-cool, Norris looked flustered, a perception that will linger until he proves otherwise.

The “repercussions” Norris mentioned are not public knowledge, but it is clear McLaren’s leadership has made its feelings known behind closed doors. Team principal Andrea Stella has long emphasised the importance of discipline and mutual respect between his drivers.

By taking out his closest ally in the title fight, Norris risked not only his own race but the team’s entire championship picture. Even if both cars survived the incident, the shadow it casts over McLaren’s unity could last weeks.

For Piastri, the situation is slightly different. He was the aggrieved party, and his comments over team radio — accusing Norris of “barging me out of the way” — reflected genuine frustration. But he has since cooled his tone, calling the post-race discussions “productive” and confirming that Norris took responsibility.

That diplomacy is a sign of maturity from the younger Australian, and perhaps another indication that he is handling the strain of the championship fight better than his more experienced teammate.

The bigger question is how this plays out on Sunday in Austin and beyond. If Norris feels constrained by the threat of repercussions, he may become hesitant in wheel-to-wheel fights. If he pushes too hard, he risks repeating the same costly mistake. Meanwhile, Verstappen is lurking, unbothered and relentless, ready to exploit any wobble between the McLaren duo.

One thing is certain: McLaren’s dream of a drivers’ title will only survive if its two stars can channel their energy against the competition, not each other. Internal battles have destroyed title campaigns before, and the papaya squad cannot afford history to repeat itself.

For now, the pressure is squarely on Norris. He knows his margin for error is gone, his composure under doubt, and Verstappen waiting with the calm of a driver who has seen it all. Come Sunday, we will find out if Norris can silence those doubts — or if Singapore was the first crack in his title challenge.