McLaren Should Weigh Team Orders for Norris, Says Mercedes Boss Toto Wolff Amid Championship Tensions

Toto Wolff: McLaren ought to prioritize Lando Norris with team orders

The head of Mercedes shares his opinion on the discussion surrounding McLaren's team strategy

Mercedes head Toto Wolff has implied that McLaren may need to make a tough decision regarding team orders as the F1 championship battle nears its end.

McLaren seemed to be in an ideal position to take advantage of a tough weekend for Red Bull's Max Verstappen by securing the top two spots on the starting grid for the Italian Grand Prix. However, pole-sitter Lando Norris dropped from first to third during the opening lap after a tussle with his teammate, Oscar Piastri.

Piastri overtook his teammate with a bold maneuver on the outside of the Della Roggia chicane, and shortly after, Norris was overtaken by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at the next turn.

Norris secured third place, trailing Piastri and Leclerc, and reduced Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ championship to 62 points with eight races left, as the Dutchman managed only a sixth-place finish.

Wolff commented on the situation by saying, "As a leading racing team, you find yourself in a tough spot. On one hand, they are competitors, just like we are." This was in response to a question about whether he was taken aback by McLaren's decision to let their drivers compete against each other.

“We aim to ensure that the most deserving person prevails. However, when the situation starts to deteriorate and negatively affect the team's performance, what steps do you take in response?”

The team often ends up losing because when you lock in positions and issue team orders, it might go against the essence of racing. However, the logical approach must take precedence.

In the end, nobody wants to miss out on winning a championship by just three or five points, especially when those points were within reach. Navigating this challenge is extremely tough, and there's no single right way to manage it.

Wolff suggested that McLaren's team leader, Andrea Stella, might need to reconsider their 'Papaya Rules' and shift from his current strategy focused on a "racers' soul" mindset.

Toto Wolff remarked that no one has a deeper understanding of the sport than Andrea Stella and Zak Brown. He highlighted that Andrea has witnessed numerous situations unfold firsthand during his time at Ferrari.

"He possesses the spirit of a true racer who prefers not to interfere and wants to let the competitors race freely. However, I believe they will reach a decision on how to manage this situation after the race concludes."

“This was the point at which we began outlining the guidelines for engagement, later modifying the term to 'racing intent' since the word 'rules' seemed too severe for the drivers.”

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