Backing Lando Norris: McLaren’s Crucial Decision After Italian GP Drama

McLaren Must Support Lando Norris, But He Must Also Step Up

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

Support for Norris is crucial

During the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more after squandering another opportunity to secure a Formula 1 race win.

Oscar Piastri executed an impressive performance at Monza, making a bold move to pass his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and subsequently building a lead of more than five seconds.

McLaren's careful tactics proved costly when they chose a two-stop strategy, while Ferrari opted for a one-stop plan with Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth instance where McLaren has missed a potential victory, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and possibly Belgium, where improved strategic choices could have secured a win.

The more urgent concern for McLaren revolves around Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and deciding if it's the right moment to support him.

Norris trails Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' championship with eight races remaining. Considering the current performance trends of their teams, the British driver has a strong opportunity to clinch this year's title.

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

Following the Monza event, it seems that Team Principal Andrea Stella is inclined to move in that direction.

While speaking to the press at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, Stella stated, "We must now recognize that not only is the constructors' championship within reach."

"Given the current performance of our car and the challenges Red Bull is experiencing, it is certainly achievable from a driver's perspective."

“To contend for both championships, we must ensure that the team and Lando are in the best possible shape.”

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri's actions during his close racing with Norris were beyond reproach.

His move on Norris was impressive and assertive, and it would have secured him the victory at Monza if he had followed a one-stop strategy.

Although Piastri's move allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, it did not violate the team's pre-race guidelines.

Nonetheless, considering the chance that Norris could actually win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed it with a straightforward directive about behavior after the first few corners.

Nonetheless, Norris himself is not beyond reproach for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Without a doubt, the team must decide on a strategy starting from the Azerbaijan race. However, Norris should avoid providing Piastri with reasons, as he did in Hungary, to disrupt his quest for the championship.

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

More than just a ‘qualifying expert’

Leclerc has consistently delivered impressive performances on race days in 2024, and the Monza event was no exception.

Despite his initial complaints about being undercut by Norris, Leclerc skillfully managed his tires after gaining clear air when both McLarens pitted for their second stops. This allowed him to hold on and secure an emotional victory.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently described as a 'quali merchant' or someone with a single skill, owing to his exceptional speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position but then failed to maintain that performance during the race.

This year's Ferrari is more stable and handles its tyres more evenly, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate his exceptional tyre management skills on Sundays.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who is likely to 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 at the finish.

Considering their strong start to the season, where they were leading the first few races, it's astonishing that they now leave a race weekend as the fourth-best team.

This level of decline in performance has never been seen before.

Brawn GP transitioned from being leading race victors to a situation akin to Red Bull's current status, primarily due to insufficient funding and progress.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary assets and staff to make improvements.

The concerning factor for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with their latest upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. Additionally, with upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are anticipated to be unfavorable for the RB20, Red Bull is likely to face more challenges ahead.

New Audi head Mattia Binotto witnessed challenges firsthand during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, as he was in the Sauber garage.

This marks the initial occasion we've observed the ex-Ferrari chief engaging with the Hinwil team since his announcement in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi's Formula 1 team as both Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will work alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the role of team principal once he moves over from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a huge challenge as Sauber sits at the bottom of the constructors' standings.

Sauber has not managed to secure a top 10 position in 2024, and the Monza race brought no improvement for the team.

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

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto expressed, "It's beyond our budget. Our team must evolve into a championship-winning squad, and the sole method to achieve this is by making strides forward. We need to build our strength for the challenges ahead."

"Indeed, I believe we must make enhancements. This is crucial for our own benefit, for the team’s success, for the brand’s reputation, and for our partners. We cannot be satisfied with our current standing."

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