Toto Wolff Advises McLaren to Enforce Team Orders in Support of Lando Norris Amid F1 Title Battle

Toto Wolff suggests McLaren should prioritize Lando Norris through team orders.

The head of Mercedes shares his opinion on McLaren's internal team orders discussion.

Mercedes leader Toto Wolff has hinted that McLaren may need to make a tough decision about using team orders as the F1 championship battle nears its end.

McLaren seemed poised to take full advantage of a challenging weekend for Red Bull's Max Verstappen by securing the top two spots on the starting grid for the Italian Grand Prix. However, Lando Norris, who began in pole position, dropped from first to third place during the initial lap due to 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 behind Piastri and Leclerc. This result trimmed Verstappen's lead in the drivers' championship to 62 points, as the Dutchman managed to secure only a sixth-place finish. With eight races left, the competition remains tight.

Wolff commented on the tricky situation for a racing team that suddenly finds itself competing at the top. He explained that they are caught in a difficult position because, on one hand, their drivers are racers just like any other. His statement came in response to a question about whether he was surprised by McLaren's decision to let their drivers compete against each other.

"We aim to ensure that the most deserving individual prevails; however, when the situation turns counterproductive and affects the team's effectiveness, how should one respond?"

"The team often ends up losing because, when you lock in positions and issue team orders, it might not align with the spirit of racing we aspire to, but practicality must take precedence."

"You certainly don't want to miss winning a championship by a small margin, like three or five points, especially when those points were within reach. Balancing this situation is incredibly challenging, and there's no single right way to manage it."

Wolff suggested that McLaren team boss Andrea Stella might need to reassess their 'Papaya Rules' and consider shifting away from his "racer's mindset" strategy.

"In my opinion, Andrea Stella and Zak Brown have an unparalleled understanding of sports. Andrea has witnessed everything unfold firsthand during his time at Ferrari," Wolff commented.

"He possesses the true spirit of a racer, reluctant to interfere and preferring to let them compete freely. However, I believe they'll reach a decision after this race… what's our approach to managing this?"

"This was the point at which we began implementing guidelines for engagement, later modifying the terminology to 'racing intent' as 'rules' seemed too stringent for the drivers."

Explore Further

Breaking News

Breaking News

Site Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

It is prohibited to reproduce any part of the text, photographs, or illustrations, whether in whole or in part, in any manner.