Mercedes Chief Toto Wolff Urges McLaren to Consider Team Orders for Lando Norris Amid F1 Title Race

Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, suggests that McLaren ought to implement team orders to support Lando Norris. Wolff weighs in on the ongoing discussion about team orders within McLaren.

Mercedes team principal 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 struggles at the Italian Grand Prix and secure the top two spots on the starting grid. However, pole-sitter Lando Norris dropped from first to third place on the opening lap following a tussle with his teammate Oscar Piastri.

Piastri overtook his teammate with a bold maneuver on the outside of the Della Roggia chicane, and then Norris dropped another spot to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at the next turn.

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

When questioned about his astonishment over McLaren letting their drivers compete, Wolff remarked, "I believe that as a team now fighting at the forefront, you find yourself in a tough position. On one hand, their drivers are just as competitive as ours."

"We aim to ensure the most deserving individual succeeds, but if this goal begins to cause problems and negatively affect the team's performance, what steps should we take?"

The team consistently ends up losing because when you lock in positions and begin issuing team orders, it may go against the spirit of racing that we love. However, the logical approach must take precedence.

“In the end, nobody wants to miss out on winning a championship by a mere three or five points that were within reach. Balancing this is incredibly challenging, and there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for dealing with it.”

Wolff suggested that McLaren team leader Andrea Stella might need to reconsider their ‘Papaya Rules’ and shift from his “racers’ soul” strategy.

Toto Wolff remarked, "Andrea Stella and Zak Brown have an unparalleled understanding of the sport. Andrea, in particular, has witnessed everything unfold firsthand during his time at Ferrari."

"He has the spirit of a racer who prefers not to intervene and wants to let them compete freely, but I believe they will reach a decision after this race… what's our approach to managing this?"

"We began by establishing the guidelines for engagement, but later adjusted the terminology to 'racing intent' since the term 'rules' seemed too strict for the drivers."

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