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

McLaren should start supporting Lando Norris more, but he also needs to step up

Examining key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, particularly McLaren’s hesitation to fully support Lando Norris

Support for Norris is crucial.

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 move to pass his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and then extending his lead to more than five seconds.

McLaren's conservative strategy ended up costing them when they chose to make two pit stops, while Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc, went for a single pit stop and eventually triumphed 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 more urgent concern for McLaren is whether they should now support Norris in his quest for the drivers’ championship.

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

The strong performance of McLaren, when compared to Red Bull’s troubles, should inspire the top executives at McLaren 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.

At a media event in Monza attended by Crash.net, he stated, "We must now recognize that the constructors' championship is within reach," Stella said.

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

“To accomplish both objectives as a team, we must ensure that the team and Lando are in the best possible shape to go after both championships.”

Reflecting on the events of the first lap, Piastri should not be blamed for his conduct during 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 adhered to a one-stop strategy.

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

However, considering the chance that Norris might actually win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have managed it with straightforward pre-race guidance on behavior after the initial corner sequence.

Nevertheless, Norris also deserves some criticism for his lackluster defense against Piastri, essentially allowing his teammate to overtake him.

The team definitely has to decide on a course of action starting from Azerbaijan, but Norris has to avoid providing Piastri with reasons (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his championship chase.

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

Not Just a 'Qualifying Specialist'

Leclerc keeps delivering impressive performances on race days in 2024, and Monza was no exception.

Despite his initial complaints about being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc expertly managed his tyres once he had a clear track after both McLarens pitted for their second stops. This allowed him to secure an emotional victory.

Previously, Leclerc frequently earned the nickname 'quali merchant' or was considered a one-trick pony because of his impressive speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position but then struggled to maintain that performance in the actual race.

Thanks to the improved balance and neutrality of this year's Ferrari in managing its tyres, Leclerc has demonstrated that he is among the elite when it comes to tyre preservation on Sundays.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who is likely to pose a significant challenge to Hamilton in the coming year.

Unexpected Decline for Red Bull

Red Bull’s struggles persisted at the Italian Grand Prix, where Verstappen ended up in sixth place, trailing Leclerc by more than 35 seconds at the finish line.

Considering their strong start to the season, where they excelled in the initial races, it’s perplexing 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.

Although Brawn GP transitioned from being dominant race winners to a position similar to Red Bull's current status, this shift was merely due to insufficient financial resources and development.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary resources and staff to make a comeback.

A growing concern for Red Bull is McLaren's recent enhancement of their vehicle during the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull could face further challenges.

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

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

The Italian faces a colossal challenge as Sauber currently sits at the bottom of the constructors' standings.

Sauber has not achieved any top 10 finishes in 2024, and their performance at Monza was no different.

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

Mattia Binotto expressed to Motorsport.com that the team simply doesn't have the luxury to lag behind. He emphasized the necessity for the team to evolve into a victorious entity in the coming years. According to him, the path to achieving this goal lies in making continuous advancements and preparing rigorously for future challenges.

"Absolutely, I believe there's a need for improvement. It's crucial for our personal development, for the team, for the brand, and for our partners. We simply cannot be satisfied with where we currently stand."

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