Wolff warns McLaren: Team orders, dangerous precedent?

Toto Wolff Warns McLaren About Team Orders

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has expressed his concern about the precedent McLaren might be setting with their recent team orders at the Italian Grand Prix. Wolff, with experience in managing internal battles at Mercedes, has warned about the potential long-term effects of these decisions. In the Monza circuit, McLaren ordered Oscar Piastri to concede second position to Lando Norris after a slower pit stop for Norris resulted in Piastri gaining a position. This decision has generated debate about fairness and the consequences of such orders in the team’s strategy.

There is a risk of setting precedents that are then difficult to undo.

Toto Wolff

Wolff, when questioned about what he would have done in the same situation, highlighted the complexity of the decision. He pointed out that there is no easy answer and that the situation could become more complicated over time. “What if the team makes another mistake and it’s not a pit stop, do you change their positions?” Wolff questioned. Wolff also mentioned the importance of a clear strategy and the need to consider all possible consequences. He highlighted that McLaren is in a “luxury” situation, given its leadership over other teams.

Wolff compared McLaren’s current dynamics to what he experienced at Mercedes, where he had to manage the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. He highlighted that Hamilton and Rosberg were “fierce fighters” who held nothing back on the track, while the situation at McLaren seems “a bit corporate”.