F1
Mercedes Boss Toto Wolff Urges McLaren to Consider Team Orders for Lando Norris Amid Championship Push
Toto Wolff suggests McLaren prioritize Lando Norris through team orders
The head of Mercedes shares his opinion on McLaren's internal strategy discussion
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has indicated that it might be time for McLaren to consider enforcing team orders as the F1 championship battle nears its end.
McLaren seemed to have an ideal chance to take advantage of a challenging weekend for Red Bull's Max Verstappen by securing the top two positions on the Italian Grand Prix starting grid. However, pole-sitter Lando Norris dropped from first to third place on the opening lap due to a tussle with his teammate Oscar Piastri.
Piastri overtook his teammate with a bold maneuver on the outer side of the Della Roggia chicane, and then Norris was passed by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at the next turn.
Norris secured a third-place finish, trailing behind Piastri and Leclerc. This result narrowed Verstappen's lead in the drivers' championship to 62 points, with eight races still to go, as the Dutchman managed only a sixth-place finish.
Toto Wolff commented on McLaren's decision to let their drivers compete against each other, saying, "As a team fighting for top positions, you find yourself in a difficult situation. On one hand, their drivers are racers just like ours."
"Our goal is to ensure that the most deserving individual comes out on top, but when the situation turns counterproductive and begins to affect the team's performance, what steps should be taken?"
"The team often ends up losing because if you lock in positions and impose team orders, it goes against our racing spirit. However, logic and rational decisions must take priority."
"Ultimately, you don’t want to miss out on winning a championship by just a few points that were within your reach. Balancing this challenge is extremely tough, and there's no single right way to manage it."
Wolff mentioned that McLaren's team leader, Andrea Stella, might need to rethink their 'Papaya Rules' and shift from his current "racer's soul" strategy.
Toto Wolff commented, "Andrea Stella and Zak Brown have an unparalleled understanding of the sport. Andrea, in particular, has witnessed it all unfold numerous times during his tenure 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 about this matter after the race… What is our approach to managing this situation?"
"At this point, we began to outline the guidelines for participation and then altered the term to 'racing intent' because the word 'rules' seemed too strict for the drivers."
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