F1
Team Orders Debate: Toto Wolff Urges McLaren to Back Lando Norris in F1 Title Pursuit
Toto Wolff believes McLaren should prioritize Lando Norris with team orders
The head of Mercedes comments on the McLaren team orders discussion
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has hinted that McLaren may need to make a tough decision regarding 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 struggles over the weekend by securing the top two spots on the starting grid for the Italian Grand Prix. However, Lando Norris, who started from pole position, 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. Shortly after, Norris was overtaken again, this time by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at the next turn.
Norris secured third place, trailing Piastri and Leclerc, and reduced 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, Wolff explained that a leading racing team finds itself in a difficult position. "On one hand, they are racers just like we are racers," he remarked.
"We aim to ensure that the most deserving individual succeeds, but when the situation turns problematic and begins to affect the team's effectiveness, how should you respond?"
"The team consistently faces losses because if positions are fixed and team orders are enforced, it might go against the spirit of racing we cherish. However, logic must take precedence."
"In the end, you don't want to miss out on a championship by just a few points that you could have easily earned. Balancing this situation is extremely challenging, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing it."
Wolff suggested that McLaren's team leader Andrea Stella might need to reconsider their 'Papaya Rules' and shift away from his "racer's soul" strategy.
Toto Wolff commented, "Andrea Stella and Zak Brown have an unparalleled understanding of the sport. Andrea has witnessed everything unfold firsthand during his time at Ferrari."
"He possesses the spirit of a true racer who prefers to let the competitors race without interference, but I believe decisions will be made after this race… what is the plan for addressing this?"
“This marked the beginning of our introduction of engagement guidelines, which we later rephrased to 'racing intent' since the term ‘rules’ felt too strict for the drivers.”
Explore Further
Recent Updates
Recent Updates
Site Navigation
Crash.Net
©1999-2024 Crash Media Group
It is prohibited to reproduce any part or the entirety of this text, or any photographs or illustrations, in any manner.
Discover more from Automobilnews News - The first AI News Portal world wide
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.