Toto Wolff delivers McLaren driver management 'trick' advice

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has issued advice to McLaren over managing its drivers amid the ongoing F1 title fight.

McLaren has enjoyed a strong opening phase to the current F1 campaign, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris sitting first and second in the standings respectively.

However, the Canadian Grand Prix last weekend marked the first time the pair came together on track when Norris hit the rear of Piastri's car towards the end of the grand prix.

Wolff once oversaw a tense atmosphere within Mercedes when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg contended for titles in the opening phase of the hybrid era. 

The Austrian detailed setting strict rules of engagement is critical for McLaren to maintain harmony and success.

“I’ve seen the movie, and I was writing there as the cast,” Wolff told media including RacingNews365. 

“It's difficult because it's what drivers are calibrated to all their lives in championships, and particularly when you come into F1.

“The trick is here to establish the rules. Establish 'how do we want to go about it?'

“Obviously it increases the complexity if the constructors' championship is in your hands too. 

“You could always argue 'we need to win the constructors' championship, we need to score these points'.

“But in that case, they're so far ahead that it's not even a question whether they will win that.”

The personality differences between Piastri and Norris have consistently been noted, with Piastri's relaxed approach contrasting with Norris' honest confessions.

Wolff highlighted the pair are two different characters compared to the Mercedes rivals of the past, as he stated the team will only be able to learn by experiencing tough situations. 

“It's certainly a tricky situation,” he stated. “The characters are very different [from when] they were with us.

“It’s about strong management to learn that, but we were learning by doing, and I'm sure that these guys will get on top of that.”