Toto Wolff Urges McLaren to Set Clear Rules Now to Avoid Future Clashes

Toto Wolff, the Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes, has weighed in on McLaren’s situation after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided during the Canadian Grand Prix. The two McLaren drivers are locked in a tight fight for the championship, with Norris now 22 points behind Piastri after the race in Montreal.

Wolff, referencing Mercedes’s own experience with internal rivalry, drew comparisons to the infamous clashes between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in the 2016 Formula 1 season. Both drivers fought until the final race before Rosberg won the championship by just five points.

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Speaking about the incident, Wolff said he has “seen the movie” before and stressed that McLaren needs to set expectations early. He explained that Formula 1 drivers are conditioned to win, so team leaders must define clear rules to avoid destructive intra-team battles.

While constructors’ points are always important, Wolff pointed out that McLaren’s current advantage in that competition means the main focus should be on keeping both drivers working towards the team’s larger goals.

The characters of Norris and Piastri are quite different from the pairing of Hamilton and Rosberg, according to Wolff. That difference could shape how McLaren solves this problem as the season unfolds.

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Wolff suggested it is up to McLaren’s senior management, led by Zak Brown, to maintain strong leadership and keep their lineup harmonious. He admitted that these situations are sometimes only solved through experience and learning as you go, but he’s confident that McLaren has the tools to address it.

After the race, Norris took responsibility for the accident with Piastri, acknowledging his error both publicly and over team radio. “All my bad. All my fault. Stupid from me,” Norris said.

He described being deeply apologetic to his team, calling McLaren “my family,” and saying that letting them down is always the worst feeling for him. Norris emphasized that McLaren’s top rule is not to make contact with your teammate, a rule he broke on Sunday.

He also issued a direct apology to Piastri, praising his teammate for racing fairly and expressing regret for taking such a risk in the heat of the championship battle.

The atmosphere in the team remains positive, with both drivers focused on maintaining a constructive relationship even as the season becomes more intense. McLaren’s leadership has thrown its full support behind Norris following the crash, calling it a “miscalculation” and moving quickly to reinforce team unity.

The Formula 1 paddock understands how delicate these situations can be. With 22 points now separating Norris and Piastri, and plenty of races left in the 2025 season, how McLaren handles its internal rivalry could shape both the drivers’ championship fight and the team’s spirit moving forward.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.