Team Orders Debate: Toto Wolff Urges McLaren to Back Lando Norris for F1 Title Push

Toto Wolff suggests McLaren prioritize Lando Norris through team orders

The head of Mercedes shares his opinion on McLaren's team orders discussion

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has indicated that McLaren may need to make a tough decision regarding team orders as the Formula 1 championship battle nears its end.

McLaren had a prime chance to take advantage of Max Verstappen's struggles during the Italian Grand Prix weekend by securing the top two spots on the 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 boldly overtook his teammate on the outside of the Della Roggia chicane, and shortly after, Norris surrendered another spot to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at the next turn.

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

When questioned about his thoughts on McLaren permitting their drivers to compete, Wolff commented, "I believe that as a team now contending at the forefront, they find themselves in a difficult position. On one hand, they are racers just like us."

"We aim to ensure that the most qualified individual prevails, but when things start to become chaotic and it affects the team's effectiveness, what steps do you take in response?"

"The team consistently comes up short because if you lock in positions and implement team orders, it might not align with the spirit of racing we aspire to, but logical thinking must take precedence."

"You don't want to miss 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 boss Andrea Stella might need to reconsider their 'Papaya Rules' and shift from his "racer's soul" strategy.

Toto Wolff commented that Andrea Stella and Zak Brown have an unparalleled understanding of sports. He mentioned that Andrea has witnessed numerous situations unfold firsthand while at Ferrari.

“He possesses the competitive spirit that makes him reluctant to intervene and prefers to let the racers compete. However, I believe that following this race, a decision will be reached regarding our approach to managing this situation.”

"At this point, we began implementing guidelines for engagement and later altered the terminology to 'racing intent' since the term 'rules' seemed too strict for the drivers."

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