**”Backing Lando Norris: McLaren’s Strategic Dilemma Amidst Italian GP Drama”**

McLaren must show more support for Lando Norris – but he also has to step up

Key discussions arise after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, centered on McLaren's hesitance to fully endorse Lando Norris.

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McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more at the Italian Grand Prix, squandering yet another chance to win an F1 race.

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

McLaren's careful tactics proved to be their downfall as they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari chose a one-stop strategy with Charles Leclerc, who ended up securing victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth time McLaren has lost a chance to win, following similar outcomes in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, largely due to suboptimal strategy choices.

Nonetheless, the more urgent concern for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and deciding if it's time to support him fully now.

Norris is only 62 points away from Max Verstappen in the drivers' standings with eight races left in the season. Considering the current form of their respective teams, the British driver has a strong opportunity to win this year's title.

McLaren's strong performance compared to Red Bull's struggles is likely to encourage the senior management at the Woking team to support Norris in the race for this year's world championship.

Following the events at Monza, it seems that team leader Andrea Stella is inclined to proceed in that direction.

Speaking to the media at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, Stella stated, "We now have to recognize that winning the constructors' championship is within reach."

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

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

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

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

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

However, considering the chance that Norris might actually become the world champion this year, it was an unnecessary risk. This situation could have been managed by the team with a straightforward pre-race directive about behavior after the initial corners.

Nevertheless, Norris should not be exempt from criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially left an opportunity for his teammate to overtake.

Undoubtedly, the team must decide on a course of action starting from the Azerbaijan event. However, Norris should cease providing Piastri with reasons (as seen in Hungary) to disrupt his championship ambitions.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen have all shown no mercy to their teammates when necessary – now it’s Norris’s turn to follow suit.

Leclerc has been delivering impressive performances on race days throughout 2024, and his showing at Monza was yet another example of his prowess.

Despite his initial grievances about Norris impacting his performance, Leclerc showcased excellent tyre management once the two McLaren drivers pitted for their second stops, ultimately securing a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently criticized as a 'qualifying specialist' or someone with only one strong skill due to his exceptional speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position, but then failed to maintain that performance during the actual race.

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

Leclerc has shown that he is a versatile driver who will undoubtedly 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 their strong start to the season, where they excelled in the initial races, it's astonishing to see them now finishing a race weekend as the fourth-best team.

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

Although Brawn GP transitioned from being dominant race victors to a state similar to Red Bull's current standing, this change was merely due to limited financial resources and developmental progress.

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

Red Bull has reason to be concerned as McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade during the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming tracks such as Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are anticipated to pose challenges for the RB20, Red Bull may face further difficulties ahead.

New Audi CEO Mattia Binotto witnessed challenges firsthand while in the Sauber pit during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

This marks the initial occasion we have 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, taking on the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will be working alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will assume the position of team principal upon his future transition from Red Bull.

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

Sauber hasn't managed to secure a top 10 finish in 2024, and their performance at Monza was no exception.

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

Binotto explained to Motorsport.com that the team doesn't have the luxury of time. He emphasized that they need to evolve into a victorious team in the future. To achieve this, they must begin improving and advancing now, effectively preparing their capabilities for upcoming challenges.

"Absolutely, I believe we must make improvements. This is crucial not only for us personally but also for the team. It's vital for our brand and our partners as well. We simply can't be satisfied with our current standing."

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