Toto Wolff Urges McLaren to Reconsider Team Orders in Favor of Lando Norris as F1 Title Race Intensifies

Toto Wolff suggests McLaren prioritize Lando Norris with team orders

Mercedes chief comments on McLaren's internal strategy discussions

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has hinted that McLaren may need to make a tough decision regarding team orders as the F1 championship battle reaches its final stages.

McLaren seemed set to take full advantage of a rough weekend for Red Bull's Max Verstappen by securing the top two positions on the Italian Grand Prix starting grid. However, Lando Norris, who started in pole position, dropped from first to third on the opening lap following a tussle with his teammate Oscar Piastri.

After overtaking his teammate with a daring maneuver on the outside of the Della Roggia chicane, Piastri saw Norris concede 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 his thoughts on McLaren letting their drivers compete against each other, Wolff remarked, "As a leading racing team, you find yourself in a difficult situation. They are racers, just as we are."

"Our goal is to ensure that the most deserving individual succeeds, but when this begins to create problems and negatively affect the team's performance, how should one respond to that?"

"The team consistently faces losses because implementing fixed positions and team orders might not align with our competitive spirit, but the logical approach must take precedence."

"In the end, no one wants to miss out on a championship because of a few points that were within reach. Balancing this challenge is incredibly tough, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to managing it."

Wolff suggested that McLaren's team leader, Andrea Stella, might need to reconsider their 'Papaya Rules' and distance himself from his "racers' soul" strategy.

Toto Wolff remarked that Andrea Stella and Zak Brown possess an unparalleled understanding of the sport. He noted that Andrea, in particular, has witnessed various scenarios unfold firsthand during his time at Ferrari.

"He embodies the spirit of a racer who is reluctant to intervene and prefers to let the competitors race, but I believe they will reach some decision after this event… what is our approach to managing this?"

“At this point, we began implementing guidelines for engagement, and we later modified the term to ‘racing intent’ since 'rules' sounded too strict for the drivers.”

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