Rosberg makes McLaren 'spiral' claim as team order stance delivered

Nico Rosberg believes McLaren to be in a "positive spiral" with its form in F1, and has defended the team over its team orders stance.

McLaren currently leads the F1 constructors' standings by 41 points from Red Bull as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri close in on giving the team its first title since 1998, with Norris also in the hunt for the drivers' crown. 

The Briton is 52 points behind championship leader Max Verstappen, and although Piastri is also within 100 points, he is not deemed a realistic challenger. McLaren, though, has caveated its deployment of team orders and not delivered a cast-iron guarantee Norris will be prioritised.

Rosberg, the 2016 F1 champion, feels McLaren's turnaround from back-markers in early 2023 to championship challengers has been "magical".

"It is a positive spiral because everybody is happy, that motivates you more to work even harder and better, so I think McLaren is just going to get stronger and stronger," Rosberg explained on Sky Sports F1. 

"They are on this amazing upward trajectory, out-pacing everybody and it is really magical to watch.

"It is amazing to have, but the whole team orders and managing the drivers between themselves is not nice. It is not something fun to do because it is all about emotions and I hope that they are on top of that."

Rosberg makes 'premature' call on Piastri

McLaren's team orders have come under scrutiny, with the Hungarian and Italian Grands Prix cited as examples where Norris lost crucial points to Verstappen. 

In Budapest, McLaren strategy allowed Norris to undercut Piastri for the lead, with the team then imploring the Briton to cede position to the Australian, which Norris eventually did.

But on a poor day for Verstappen who was fifth, Norris only took eight points out of the deficit instead of the 15 for a win. 

In Italy, from pole, Norris lost the lead to Piastri at the second chicane, with both drivers then undone by a one-stopping Charles Leclerc. McLaren failed to allow Norris through into second to give him three more points with Verstappen only hauling eight for sixth. 

Rosberg, however, feels it was far too soon to impose team orders on Piastri who has indicated he will do his part when asked.

"It was too premature to compromise Oscar so much," added former Mercedes driver Rosberg. 

"We've seen he deserves to be able to win races because he's doing an awesome job and still in the championship hunt. 

"He can mathematically still do it if things really go his way, so at some point [McLaren will impose team orders] and Oscar has already said that he will accept it."