Backing Lando Norris: McLaren’s Strategic Dilemma Post-Italian GP Drama

It's crucial for McLaren to support Lando Norris, though he also needs to step up

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

Support for Norris is due

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more during the Italian Grand Prix after losing another chance at an F1 victory.

Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive performance at the Monza race, executing a bold move to pass his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, and then extending his lead to more than five seconds.

McLaren's careful tactics backfired when they decided on a two-stop plan, while Ferrari chose a one-stop approach with Charles Leclerc, leading to his victory in a home race.

McLaren has now missed out on a potential victory for the fourth time due to strategic missteps, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and possibly Belgium.

The more immediate concern for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and whether the team should start supporting him at this point.

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

The strong performance of McLaren compared to Red Bull's struggles is likely to encourage the top management at McLaren to support Norris in his quest for this year's world championship.

Following the Monza event, it seems that team principal Andrea Stella is inclined to take that course of action.

While speaking to the press at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, Stella stated, "We must now recognize that the constructor championship is within reach."

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

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

Reflecting on the events of the first lap, Piastri's performance in the close-quarters duel with Norris was commendable and beyond reproach.

His move against Norris was both impressive and forceful, and it would have secured him the victory at Monza if he had committed to a single-stop strategy.

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

Considering the real chance of Norris winning the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed this by giving him straightforward guidelines on behavior right after the first few corners.

Nonetheless, Norris cannot be exempt from criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially left an opportunity for his teammate to overtake him.

Without question, the team must come to a conclusion starting with the race in Azerbaijan. However, Norris must refrain from providing Piastri with any motivation (as seen in Hungary) to disrupt his championship quest.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen didn't hold back when competing against their teammates – now it's time for Norris to follow suit.

More Than Just a Qualifying Specialist

Leclerc continues to deliver impressive performances on race days in 2024, and Monza was no exception.

Despite his initial complaints about Norris undercutting him, Leclerc expertly managed his tyres once he had clear air after both McLarens pitted for their second stops. This allowed him to secure a heartfelt victory.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently criticized as being solely a qualifying specialist, known for his exceptional speed during Saturday sessions where he often secured pole position, only to lose ground during the actual races.

With Ferrari’s car this year being more balanced and neutral in its tyre management, Leclerc has demonstrated on Sundays that he is among the top drivers in tyre preservation.

Leclerc has shown that he is a versatile driver who will undoubtedly challenge Hamilton significantly in the upcoming year.

Red Bull's decline persisted during the Italian Grand Prix, as 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 led the first few races, it's astonishing to see them now leaving a race weekend ranked as the fourth-best team.

A decline in performance like this has never happened before.

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

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

A point of concern for Red Bull is McLaren's enhancement of their vehicle following their recent upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With tracks like Azerbaijan and Singapore approaching, which are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull may face further challenges ahead.

New Audi CEO Mattia Binotto witnessed difficulties firsthand while in the Sauber garage during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

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

Binotto will lead Audi's Formula 1 team in the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer, working with Jonathan Wheatley, who will become the team principal after moving over from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a colossal task, as Sauber is currently at the bottom of the constructors’ championship standings.

Sauber has yet to achieve a top 10 finish in the 2024 season, and the Monza race did not improve their record.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu occupied the last positions on the starting grid, clearly being the least competitive team during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "We don't have the luxury of allowing this. Our team must evolve into a victorious one in the future. The sole path to achieve this is by advancing and making progress. We need to build our strength for what's ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we definitely need to make improvements. This is crucial for us personally, for the team, for the brand, and for our partners. We cannot be satisfied with where we are right now."

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