"Wolff on McLaren:‘How Far Can They Go?’"
During the race in Monza, Lando Norris found himself in a difficult situation: due to a delayed pit stop, he lost a position to his McLaren teammate,Oscar Piastri.In an effort to restore fairness and compensate for the team’s mistake, McLaren instructed the Australian to let Lando back through on track. This decision sparked significant discussion in the paddock and prompted a reaction from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
The Austrian noted that such actions could have long-term consequences and potentially set an unusual precedent in Formula 1:
Toto Wolff: “I would not want to say definitively whether it was right or wrong, but I am genuinely curious to see what consequences this decision may bring. McLaren have created a kind of precedent, and there is a chance that other teams may be tempted to follow a similar approach. What happens if next time the mistake is not during a pit stop but in another situation? Will the drivers be swapped again? How far can teams go in trying to maintain balance within the team?
At the same time, we must not forget the other side of the matter. It is unfair for a driver to lose valuable points in the fight against his teammate solely because of a team error. Therefore, such a decision can be justified if it is seen as a way to equalize opportunities between the drivers.
I believe the definitive answer to whether this was the right call will only become clear towards the end of the season,when the championship battle intensifies and every single point gained or lost becomes crucial.”
