Backing Lando Norris: McLaren’s Strategic Dilemma Amidst Italian GP Drama and Red Bull’s Unraveling

McLaren Should Support Lando Norris More, But He Also Needs to Improve

An analysis of the key discussions 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 at the Italian Grand Prix, missing out on yet another Formula 1 race win.

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

McLaren's careful strategy ended up being their downfall, as they decided on a two-stop plan while Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc, opted for a one-stop approach and eventually clinched victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth missed chance for McLaren to secure a victory, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where improved strategic choices could have led to a win.

The larger concern for McLaren currently is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and deciding if they should support him at this stage.

Norris is trailing Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' championship with eight races remaining. Considering the current form of both teams, the British driver stands a strong chance of winning the title this year.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, should encourage the senior management team in Woking 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 that action.

Speaking to the press at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, Stella remarked, "We must now recognize that winning the constructors' championship is within reach."

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

“To aim for both championships, we must ensure that both the team and Lando are in the best possible position to succeed.”

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

His move on Norris was remarkable and assertive, and it would have secured him the victory at Monza if he had opted for a single-stop strategy.

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

Nonetheless, considering the chance that Norris could realistically win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary risk. The team could have easily managed it with straightforward instructions before the race on how to behave after the initial corners.

Nevertheless, Norris also deserves criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, which essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Undoubtedly, the team must decide how to proceed starting from the Azerbaijan race, but Norris should avoid providing Piastri with reasons (as he did in Hungary) to hinder his championship quest.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen have all been known to be relentless with their teammates when necessary. Now, it's time for Norris to adopt the same approach.

More than just a "qualifying expert"

Leclerc consistently delivers outstanding performances on race day in 2024, and Monza was no exception.

Despite initially expressing frustration about Norris undermining his performance, Leclerc expertly conserved his tyres once he had a clear track after the two McLaren drivers made their second pit stops, ultimately securing an emotional win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently referred to as a 'qualifying expert' or a specialist with limited skills because of his remarkable speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position but then struggled to maintain his performance during the race.

Thanks to the improved balance and neutral handling of this year’s Ferrari, Leclerc has demonstrated exceptional skill in tyre management on race days, proving he is among the top drivers in this aspect.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who is expected to strongly challenge Hamilton in the upcoming year.

Unexpected Struggles for Red Bull

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

Starting the season with a strong performance and winning the first few races, it's surprising to see them now finishing a race weekend as only the fourth-best team.

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

Brawn GP transitioned from being leading race victors to a state akin to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to financial constraints and limited advancements.

Red Bull possesses the necessary resources and team members to make a successful comeback.

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 are not anticipated to favor the RB20, more challenges are likely on the horizon.

New Audi CEO witnesses challenges firsthand

New Audi leader Mattia Binotto attended the Sauber garage during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

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

Binotto is set to lead Audi’s Formula 1 team as both the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will be working with Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the role of team principal after his upcoming move 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 at any race in 2024, and the Monza event did not improve their record.

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

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Binotto said, "It's not something we can afford. Our team needs to evolve into a victorious one in the future. The path to achieving this is by making progress and climbing up the ranks. We must prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead."

"Absolutely, we definitely need to make improvements. This is crucial for us individually, for the team's success, for the brand's reputation, and for our partners. We can't be satisfied with where we currently stand."

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