F1
Team Orders Debate: Toto Wolff Urges McLaren to Prioritize Lando Norris in F1 Title Race
Toto Wolff: McLaren ought to prioritize Lando Norris in team decisions
Mercedes chief comments on McLaren's team orders controversy
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has indicated that McLaren may need to make a tough decision regarding the use of team orders as the F1 championship battle nears its end.
McLaren seemed to be in an ideal position to take advantage of Red Bull's Max Verstappen having a bad weekend by securing the top two spots on the starting grid for the Italian Grand Prix. However, pole-sitter Lando Norris dropped from first to third place during the initial lap after 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 conceded another spot to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at the next turn.
Norris secured a third-place finish, trailing behind Piastri and Leclerc. This performance reduced Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ championship to 62 points, with eight races left in the season, as the Dutchman managed only a sixth-place finish.
Toto Wolff commented on McLaren's decision to let their drivers compete, noting that as a team now contending at the forefront, they face a difficult situation. He explained that they are racers, just as McLaren's team members are.
"We aim to ensure that the most deserving person succeeds, but when the situation becomes chaotic and negatively affects the team's performance, what steps should be taken in response?"
"The team frequently faces defeat because if you lock positions and implement team orders, you might not align with our racing spirit, but the logical approach must take precedence."
“In the end, you don't want to miss out on a championship by just three or five points that you could have easily earned. Balancing this is extremely challenging, and there's no single right way to manage it.”
Wolff suggested that McLaren team boss Andrea Stella might need to reconsider their 'Papaya Rules' and shift away from his "racer's soul" strategy.
Toto Wolff mentioned that when it comes to understanding sports, few can match Andrea Stella and Zak Brown. He noted that Andrea has witnessed numerous events unfold firsthand during his time at Ferrari.
"He possesses the spirit of a true racer, reluctant to intervene and eager to let the competition play out naturally. However, I believe a decision will be made following this race… how are we addressing this situation?"
"At this point, we began outlining the guidelines for engagement, later modifying the term to 'racing intent' as 'rules' seemed too stringent for the drivers."
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