F1
Time for McLaren to Implement Team Orders for Lando Norris, Says Mercedes Boss Toto Wolff
Toto Wolff suggests that McLaren should potentially implement team orders to support Lando Norris.
Mercedes chief 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 battle for the F1 championship nears its end.
McLaren seemed poised to take full advantage of a lackluster performance by Red Bull's Max Verstappen during the Italian Grand Prix. They secured the top two spots on the starting grid, but Lando Norris, who began in pole position, dropped to third place on the first 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 surrendered another spot to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at the next turn.
Norris secured third place, trailing behind Piastri and Leclerc. He managed to reduce Verstappen’s lead in the drivers' championship to 62 points, as the Dutchman ended the race in sixth with only eight races left in the season.
Toto Wolff commented on the challenges faced by a racing team suddenly competing at the front. "As a team in this position, you're caught between a rock and a hard place," he explained. When questioned about McLaren's decision to let their drivers compete against each other, Wolff noted, "They are racers just like we are."
"We aim to ensure that the most deserving individual succeeds, but when this begins to cause dysfunction and negatively affect the team's performance, how should you respond?"
The team often ends up losing because if you lock in positions and implement team orders, it might go against the essence of racing that we love. However, the logical approach should 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 gained. Balancing this is extremely challenging, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach to managing it."
Wolff mentioned that McLaren's team leader, Andrea Stella, might need to reconsider their 'Papaya Rules' and shift from his current 'racer's soul' strategy.
"Andrea Stella and Zak Brown are unparalleled in their understanding of the sport," Wolff commented. "Andrea, in particular, has witnessed numerous situations unfold firsthand during his time at Ferrari."
"He possesses the spirit of a true racer who prefers to let the competition unfold naturally. However, I believe that following this race, they will reach a decision on how to manage the situation."
"At that point, we began to lay out the guidelines for engagement, but later we modified the terminology to 'racing intent' because the term 'rules' sounded too strict for the drivers."
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