Backing Lando Norris: McLaren’s Crucial Decision Amid F1 Drama and Red Bull’s Unprecedented Downfall

McLaren Should Support Lando Norris, Yet He Must Also Step Up

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

Support for Norris is due

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight during the Italian Grand Prix, squandering yet another opportunity for an F1 race win.

Oscar Piastri delivered a stellar 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 conservative strategy proved detrimental as they decided on a two-stop plan, while Ferrari opted for a single-stop approach with Charles Leclerc, who went on to secure victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth time McLaren has missed out on a potential win, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, all due to suboptimal strategy choices.

The more urgent concern for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and whether they should start supporting him now.

With eight rounds remaining in the season, Norris is trailing Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' championship. Considering the current performance trends of their respective teams, the British driver stands a strong chance of clinching this year's title.

McLaren's strong performance, especially when compared to Red Bull's struggles, ought to inspire the senior leaders at the Woking 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 proceed in that direction.

While speaking to the press at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that the constructors' championship is within our reach," Stella remarked.

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

"To go after both championships, we must ensure that the team and Lando are well-prepared."

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

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

Although Piastri's maneuvers allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, they were still in line with the team's pre-race guidelines.

Nevertheless, considering the chance that Norris might actually win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed this by giving straightforward pre-race guidelines on behavior after the initial corners.

Nevertheless, Norris himself deserves criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, essentially allowing his teammate to overtake him.

Undoubtedly, the team must decide on their approach starting with the Azerbaijan race. However, Norris must cease providing Piastri with reasons to disrupt his championship quest, as was the case in Hungary.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen have all shown a willingness to be tough on their teammates when necessary – now it's Norris's turn to follow suit.

More than just a qualifying expert

Leclerc has consistently delivered strong performances on race days in 2024, with Monza being no exception.

Despite his initial complaints about being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc showcased excellent tyre management after both McLaren cars pitted for their second stops, ultimately securing an emotional win.

Leclerc used to be frequently called a 'quali merchant' or a one-trick pony because of his incredible speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, which often led him to secure pole position, but he would then lose his edge during the actual race.

The improved balance and neutrality in how this year's Ferrari manages its tyres have allowed Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tyre preservation during races on Sundays.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who is sure to challenge Hamilton significantly in the coming year.

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 they began the season strongly, leading the first few races, it's surprising to see them now finishing a race weekend as only the fourth-best team.

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

Brawn GP's transition from leading race victors to a state comparable to Red Bull's current standing was primarily due to insufficient funding and progress.

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

The concerning part for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent update from the Dutch Grand Prix. With tracks like Azerbaijan and Singapore on the horizon, which are predicted to be unfavorable for the RB20, Red Bull may face further challenges ahead.

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

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

Binotto is set to lead Audi's Formula 1 team, taking on roles as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will work with Jonathan Wheatley, who will become the team principal after transitioning from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a huge challenge as Sauber is currently at the bottom of the constructors’ championship standings.

Sauber has not managed to secure a top 10 position in 2024, and their performance at Monza was no exception.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu occupied the last positions on the grid, making their team the slowest by a significant margin on race day.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "This is beyond our means. Our team must evolve into a championship-winning team in the future. The path to achieving that involves making upward strides and continuous progress. We must prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead."

"Therefore, I believe we definitely need to make improvements. This is crucial for us individually, for the team as a whole, for the brand, and for our partners. We cannot be satisfied with where we currently stand."

Discover More

Recent Updates

Recent Updates

Website Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

It is prohibited to reproduce any part or the entirety of the text, photos, or images in any manner.