**”Toto Wolff Urges McLaren to Reconsider Team Orders for Lando Norris Amid Championship Battle”**

Toto Wolff suggests McLaren ought to implement team orders to benefit Lando Norris

The head of Mercedes weighs in on the discussion about McLaren's team strategy

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

McLaren had an ideal chance to take advantage of Max Verstappen's disappointing weekend at Red Bull by securing the top two spots on the Italian Grand Prix grid. However, the pole-sitter, Lando Norris, found himself dropping from first to third place during the first lap following a tussle with his teammate Oscar Piastri.

Piastri overtook his teammate with a bold maneuver around the outside of the Della Roggia chicane, and then Norris lost another spot to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the next turn.

Norris secured third place, trailing Piastri and Leclerc, and narrowed 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 whether he was taken aback by McLaren permitting their drivers to compete against each other, Wolff commented, "I believe that as a team now fighting at the forefront, you're in a tough position. On one hand, they are competitors just as we are."

"Our goal is to ensure that the most deserving person succeeds, but when the situation starts to cause issues and negatively affect the team's performance, what steps should be taken?"

"The team frequently finds itself at a disadvantage because imposing fixed positions and team orders can conflict with the essence of racing, even though logic might dictate otherwise."

"In the end, you don't want to miss winning a championship by just three or five points that were within your reach. Balancing this challenge is incredibly tough, and there's no single right way to manage it."

Wolff suggested that McLaren's team leader, Andrea Stella, might need to reassess their 'Papaya Rules' and consider shifting from his current "racer's spirit" strategy.

Toto Wolff commented that Andrea Stella and Zak Brown have an unparalleled understanding of sports. He noted that Andrea, in particular, has witnessed numerous events unfold firsthand during his time at Ferrari.

"He possesses the spirit of a true racer who prefers to let the competitors race freely, but I believe a decision will be made following this race… what is our plan going forward?"

"At this point, we began implementing guidelines for engagement, but later altered the term to 'racing intent' since the word 'rules' seemed too strict for the drivers."

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