F1
McLaren’s Dilemma: Toto Wolff Urges Team Orders to Boost Lando Norris in F1 Title Race
Toto Wolff suggests McLaren should prioritize Lando Norris with team orders
Mercedes chief comments on McLaren's internal team orders discussion
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has indicated that McLaren may need to make a tough decision regarding team orders as the F1 championship battle nears its end.
McLaren seemed poised to take full advantage of Max Verstappen's difficult weekend at the Italian Grand Prix by securing the top two spots on the grid. However, Lando Norris, who started in pole position, fell to third place after battling with his teammate Oscar Piastri on the opening lap.
Piastri overtook his teammate with a bold maneuver on the outside of the Della Roggia chicane, and then Norris surrendered another spot to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at the next turn.
Norris secured third place, trailing behind Piastri and Leclerc, and narrowed Verstappen's lead in the drivers' championship to 62 points with eight races left, as the Dutchman managed only a sixth-place finish.
When questioned about his thoughts on McLaren permitting their drivers to compete against each other, Wolff remarked, "As a team suddenly fighting at the front, you find yourself in a difficult position. On one hand, they are racers just like we are."
"We aim to ensure the most deserving individual succeeds, but when it begins to disrupt and negatively affect our team's performance, what steps do you take in response?"
"The team often ends up losing because when you hold positions and implement team orders, it might not align with our racing spirit, but the logical approach has to take precedence."
Ultimately, no one wants to miss out on winning a championship by just a few points that were within reach. Balancing this challenge is incredibly tough, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution for managing it.
Wolff suggested that McLaren team principal Andrea Stella might need to reconsider their ‘Papaya Rules’ and shift from his current “racers’ soul” strategy.
Toto Wolff remarked that Andrea Stella and Zak Brown possess an unparalleled understanding of the sport. He highlighted that Andrea, in particular, has witnessed numerous scenarios 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 competition play out naturally, but I believe they'll reach a decision about this after the race… What are our next steps?"
“This was the moment we began to establish the guidelines for engagement, and later we modified the term to 'racing intent' since the word 'rules' felt too stringent for the drivers.”
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