Team Orders Debate: Toto Wolff Urges McLaren to Back Lando Norris in F1 Title Fight

McLaren should prioritize Lando Norris, says Toto Wolff

Mercedes chief weighs in on McLaren's team orders discussion

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has indicated that McLaren may now need to make the tough decision to enforce team orders, as the F1 championship battle nears its end.

McLaren seemed to have an ideal chance to take advantage of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen’s disappointing weekend by securing the top two spots on the grid for the Italian Grand Prix. 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 was passed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the next turn.

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

Wolff commented that being a racing team competing at the forefront puts you in a difficult position. He noted that, on one hand, they are racers just like his team when asked if he was taken aback by McLaren permitting their drivers to compete against each other.

"We aim to ensure the most deserving individual succeeds, but when the situation turns chaotic and hinders the team's effectiveness, how should you respond to it?"

"The team often ends up losing because when you lock in positions and impose team orders, it might not align with the spirit of racing we cherish. However, the logical approach must take precedence."

"You don't want to miss winning a championship by just a few points that you could have easily secured. Balancing this challenge is incredibly tough, and there's no definitive way to go about it."

Wolff mentioned that McLaren's team leader Andrea Stella might need to reconsider their 'Papaya Rules' and shift from his current "racers' soul" strategy.

Toto Wolff mentioned that Andrea Stella and Zak Brown possess an unparalleled understanding of sports. He noted that Andrea, in particular, has witnessed numerous developments firsthand during his time at Ferrari.

"He possesses the spirit of a true racer, who prefers to let the competitors race freely. However, I believe that after this race, they will reach a decision on how to manage the situation."

"At this point, we began establishing guidelines for engagement and later modified the terminology to 'racing intent' because the word 'rules' seemed too strict for the drivers."

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