**”Backing Lando Norris: McLaren’s Crossroads Amid Italian GP Drama and Red Bull’s Decline”**

McLaren should start supporting Lando Norris more, but he must also step up his game

An analysis of the key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren's hesitation to fully support Lando Norris

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During the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more as they squandered another Formula 1 race win.

Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive performance at Monza, executing a bold pass on his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and then extending his lead to more than five seconds.

McLaren's careful tactics backfired when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc, went for a single-stop strategy and ended up securing victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth instance where McLaren could have secured a win, as seen previously in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, if only their strategic choices had been better.

Nevertheless, McLaren's more urgent concern is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and deciding if it’s the right moment to support him fully.

Norris is only 62 points behind Max Verstappen in the drivers’ championship with eight races left in the season. Considering the current performance trends of their teams, the British driver has a strong opportunity to win the title this year.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, should inspire the leadership at the Woking team to support Norris in his bid for this year's world championship.

Following the Monza event, it seems that team leader Andrea Stella is inclined to take this course of action.

Speaking to the press at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, Stella stated, "It's time for us to recognize that winning the constructor championship is within our reach."

"Given the current performance of our car and the challenges Red Bull is experiencing, achieving this goal is certainly within reach from a driver's perspective."

"In order to secure both championships, we must ensure that the team and Lando are in the optimal position to compete effectively."

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri should not be faulted for his actions during the close racing with Norris.

His move against Norris was impressive and bold, and it would have secured him victory at Monza if he had committed to a one-stop strategy.

Although Piastri’s actions allowed Leclerc to pass Norris, he did not go against the team’s pre-race directives.

However, considering the chance that Norris could realistically win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed this with a straightforward directive about behavior after the initial set of corners.

Nonetheless, Norris also deserves some criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Clearly, the team must make a choice starting with the Azerbaijan event. However, Norris must refrain from providing Piastri with reasons (as seen in Hungary) to disrupt his championship quest.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen demonstrated a relentless attitude towards their teammates when necessary. Now, it's time for Norris to adopt the same approach.

More than just a 'qualifying expert'

Leclerc has consistently delivered impressive performances on race days in 2024, and his showing at Monza was no exception.

Despite initially expressing frustration about being overtaken by Norris, Leclerc expertly managed his tyres once he had an open track after both McLaren cars pitted for their second stops. His skillful performance culminated in a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently called a 'quali merchant' or a single-skill specialist because of his exceptional speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position, only to lose his advantage during the actual race.

This year's Ferrari has improved balance and a more neutral approach to handling its tyres, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tyre management during races on Sundays.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who will undoubtedly challenge Hamilton significantly in the upcoming year.

Historic Decline for Red Bull

Red Bull's struggles persisted at the Italian Grand Prix, where Verstappen ended up in sixth place, trailing Leclerc by more than 35 seconds.

Considering their strong start to the season, where they led the initial races, it’s astonishing to see them now finishing a race weekend as only the fourth-best team.

A decline in performance like this has never been seen before.

Brawn GP transitioned from being dominant race winners to a status akin to Red Bull's current position, primarily due to financial constraints and limited progress.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary resources and staff to improve their situation.

The concerning aspect for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent update during the Dutch GP. With upcoming tracks like Azerbaijan and Singapore that are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull may face further challenges.

New Audi head Mattia Binotto witnessed the challenges firsthand in the Sauber garage during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

This marks the initial appearance of the ex-Ferrari chief engaging with the Hinwil team since his announcement in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi's Formula 1 team in the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will be working with Jonathan Wheatley, who will become the team principal once he transitions from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a colossal task as Sauber sits at the bottom of the constructors' championship standings.

Sauber has not managed to secure a top 10 finish in 2024, and the situation at Monza was no different for the team.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu occupied the last positions on the starting grid and were clearly the least competitive team during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "It's not something we can allow. Our team needs to evolve into a victorious one in the future. The path to achieving that is by consistently advancing and improving. We must prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead."

"Absolutely, we definitely need to make improvements. This is crucial for us personally, for the team as a whole, for our brand, and for our partners. We simply cannot be satisfied with where we stand right now."

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