**”Toto Wolff Urges McLaren to Rethink Team Orders Amid F1 Title Battle”**

Toto Wolff: McLaren ought to prioritize Lando Norris with team orders

Mercedes chief weighs in on McLaren's team orders controversy

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has indicated that McLaren may need to make a tough decision regarding team orders as the Formula 1 championship battle nears its end.

McLaren seemed to be in an ideal position to take advantage of a difficult weekend for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by securing the top two spots on the Italian Grand Prix grid. However, Lando Norris, who started in pole position, dropped from first to third during the first lap following a tussle with his teammate Oscar Piastri.

Piastri overtook his teammate with a bold maneuver on the outer edge of the Della Roggia chicane. Shortly after, Norris was overtaken again, this time by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the next turn.

Norris secured a third-place finish, trailing Piastri and Leclerc, and reduced Verstappen's lead in the drivers' championship to 62 points with eight races left, as the Dutchman finished in sixth place.

Wolff explained that being a leading racing team puts you in a tough situation. He noted that while McLaren's decision to let their drivers compete might be surprising, it's understandable since they are racers at heart, just like his team.

"Our goal is to ensure that the most deserving person succeeds, but when things become chaotic and start affecting the team's efficiency, what steps should be taken?"

"The team consistently ends up losing because when you lock in positions and implement team orders, it might not align with the spirit of racing that we cherish, but the logical approach has to take precedence."

"You certainly don't want to miss out on winning a championship by just a few points that were within your reach. Balancing this challenge is incredibly tough, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution for managing it."

Wolff suggested that Andrea Stella, McLaren's team principal, might need to reassess their 'Papaya Rules' and consider a shift away from his "racers' soul" strategy.

“In my opinion, Andrea Stella and Zak Brown have an unparalleled understanding of the sport. Andrea has witnessed everything unfold firsthand numerous times during his tenure at Ferrari,” Wolff remarked.

"He possesses the spirit of a true racer who hesitates to intervene and prefers to let the competition unfold naturally. However, I believe a decision will be made after this race… what is our strategy for managing this situation?"

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

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