Backing Lando Norris: McLaren’s Gamble Amidst Italian GP Drama and Red Bull’s Unprecedented Downfall

McLaren should start supporting Lando Norris more, though he also has to step up his game

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

Support for Norris is crucial

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more during the Italian Grand Prix, squandering yet another chance at a Formula 1 victory.

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

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

This marks the fourth instance where McLaren could have secured a win, following similar missed chances in Canada, Britain, and possibly Belgium, had they made more strategic choices.

The bigger concern for McLaren is whether they should start supporting Norris in his quest for the drivers’ championship.

British driver Lando Norris trails Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' championship with eight races left, and considering the current form of their respective teams, Norris has a strong opportunity to clinch the title this year.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to the troubles faced by Red Bull, should encourage the top executives 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 proceed in that direction.

At Monza, he informed the press, with Crash.net in attendance: "We must now recognize that not only is the constructors' championship within reach,” Stella mentioned.

"From the perspective of a driver, considering our current car performance and the challenges Red Bull is facing, it is certainly achievable."

“To aim for success in both championships, it's essential to ensure that both the team and Lando are well-prepared and in optimal condition.”

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri shouldn't be faulted for his approach during the close racing with Norris.

His move on 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 not in violation of the team's pre-race guidelines.

Nevertheless, considering that Norris has a genuine shot at becoming the world champion this year, it was an unnecessary risk. The team could have easily managed this by providing straightforward pre-race guidelines on behavior for the initial series of turns.

Nonetheless, Norris cannot be let off the hook for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him without much resistance.

It's clear that the team must make a decision starting from the Azerbaijan race, but Norris has to avoid providing Piastri with reasons to disrupt his chase for the championship, as was the case in Hungary.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen all demonstrated a fierce competitiveness against their teammates when necessary. Now, Norris needs to adopt the same approach.

More than just a 'qualifying expert'

Leclerc keeps delivering exceptional performances on race day in 2024, and Monza was another example.

Despite initially expressing frustration about being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc skillfully preserved his tyres after both McLaren cars pitted for their second stops. This allowed him to maintain his lead and secure an emotional win.

Previously, Leclerc frequently earned the reputation of being a ‘qualifying specialist’ or a single-skill driver because of his exceptional speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position, only to lose ground during the actual race.

This year's Ferrari, with its improved balance and more neutral handling of tyres, has allowed Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tyre preservation during Sunday races.

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 managed to secure only a sixth-place finish, trailing Leclerc by more than 35 seconds by the race's conclusion.

Considering how they began the season by controlling the first few races, it's astonishing to see them now finish a race weekend as the fourth-best team.

A decline in performance of this magnitude has never been seen before.

Brawn GP transitioned from being dominant race victors to a state comparable to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to financial constraints and a halt in development.

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

The concerning issue for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming tracks such as Azerbaijan and Singapore, which aren't anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull is likely to face further challenges.

New Audi leader experiences challenges firsthand

Mattia Binotto, the newly appointed head of Audi, attended the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, observing from the Sauber team’s garage.

This marks the initial occasion that we have witnessed the ex-Ferrari chief engaging with the Hinwil team since his introduction 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 work alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the position of team principal once he transitions from Red Bull.

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

Sauber hasn't managed to secure a top 10 position at all in 2024, and their performance at Monza didn't improve their record.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu secured the last positions on the grid, making their team the slowest during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "It's not something we can allow. Our aim is to transform this team into a winning one in the future. The path to achieving that is through continuous improvement and advancement. We need to build our strength for what lies ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe there's a need for improvement. It's crucial not only for us but also for the team, the brand, and our partners. We can't be satisfied with where we are right now."

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