F1
Title: “Toto Wolff Urges McLaren to Implement Team Orders in Support of Lando Norris Amid F1 Title Battle
Toto Wolff suggests McLaren prioritize Lando Norris through team orders
Mercedes chief shares his opinion on McLaren's team orders discussion
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff hinted that McLaren might need to make a tough decision regarding team orders as the F1 championship battle nears its end.
McLaren seemed poised to take full advantage of Max Verstappen's struggles during the Italian Grand Prix weekend by securing the top two spots on the starting grid. However, Lando Norris, who had earned pole position, fell 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 surrendered another spot to 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.
Wolff commented on McLaren's decision to let their drivers compete, saying, "As a team suddenly fighting at the front, they face a tough situation. On one hand, their drivers are racers just like we are."
"We aim to ensure that the most qualified individual succeeds, but if the situation turns counterproductive and affects the team's effectiveness, what steps should be taken in response?"
"The team constantly finds itself at a disadvantage because when you lock in positions and implement team directives, it might not align with the spirit of racing we aim for, but the logical approach must take precedence."
In the end, you definitely don’t want to miss out on winning a championship by just three or five points, especially when those points were within your grasp. Balancing this challenge is incredibly tough, and there's no single, foolproof way to manage it.
Wolff suggested that McLaren's team leader, Andrea Stella, might need to reconsider their 'Papaya Rules' and shift from his "racer's spirit" method.
Toto Wolff remarked that Andrea Stella and Zak Brown have an unparalleled understanding of the sport. He noted that Andrea has witnessed everything unfold firsthand at Ferrari on numerous occasions.
"He possesses the spirit of a true racer who is reluctant to intervene and prefers to let the competition unfold naturally. However, I believe that, following this race, they will reach a decision on how to manage these situations in the future."
"At this point, we began to establish guidelines for engagement, but later altered the terminology to 'racing intent' because the term 'rules' seemed too strict for the drivers."
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