Wolff warns McLaren may face tricky precedent after Norris–Piastri swap

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes McLaren may have created a “very difficult precedent to undo” after ordering Oscar Piastri to hand second place back to Lando Norris in Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.

McLaren’s balancing act

McLaren, who have pledged to remain as fair as possible in their all-intra-team championship fight, faced their biggest test yet at Monza.

Norris had run ahead of Piastri all race until a slow pit stop dropped him behind the Australian. The team quickly instructed Piastri to reverse positions, a call he reluctantly accepted after initially questioning whether a slow stop was grounds for intervention.

Piastri later admitted the decision was “fair”, while Norris backed the team’s handling of the situation.

Wolff: “You set a precedent”

Wolff, who managed Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg during their fractious title battles at Mercedes from 2014-16, warned that McLaren may now face difficult questions later in the season.

“There’s no right and no wrong,” Wolff said. “But you set a precedent that is very difficult to undo. What if the team makes another mistake? Do you switch them around again?

“Because of a team mistake, making a driver who is catching up lose points is not fair either. The answer will come towards the end of the season when it heats up.”

The team order ensured Norris closed Piastri’s championship lead to 31 points, rather than 37. It came just a week after car failure cost Norris second place to his team-mate at Zandvoort.

Defining ‘team mistakes’

Wolff questioned where McLaren would draw the line in similar scenarios.

“What is a team mistake? What if the car doesn’t start up next time, or the suspension breaks? You could have a cascade of events that become very difficult to manage,” he said.

“Most important is to have a clear strategy – either let them race or balance it in the fairest way possible.”

Lessons from Hamilton–Rosberg

Reflecting on Mercedes’ own experience, Wolff admitted he would handle Hamilton and Rosberg’s rivalry differently in hindsight, particularly their bitter 2016 campaign.

“Back then, the Constructors’ Championship was guaranteed, so I would have just let them race fair and square – but don’t touch. If you touch, we take control,” he said.

However, Wolff pointed out that McLaren’s situation is less volatile.

“We had two different animals in Lewis and Nico – two assassins, fierce combatants. At times it was very difficult. I don’t see that at McLaren.”

McLaren can mathematically secure the Constructors’ Championship at the next race in Azerbaijan on September 21, with seven rounds still remaining.