Backing Lando Norris: McLaren’s Strategy Dilemma and the Quest for the Championship Amid F1 Drama

McLaren should show support for Lando Norris, yet he must also improve individually

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

Support Norris

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more during the Italian Grand Prix as they squandered yet another chance to win a Formula 1 race.

Oscar Piastri delivered an outstanding 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 conservative tactics resulted in a setback when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari chose a one-stop strategy with Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth time McLaren has squandered a winning chance, following similar instances in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, all due to subpar strategy choices.

The more urgent matter for McLaren, though, is Norris' chase for the drivers' title – and deciding if it's the right moment to support him.

With only eight rounds remaining, Norris trails Max Verstappen by 62 points in the drivers' championship. Considering the current performance trends of their teams, the British racer stands a strong chance of clinching the title this year.

McLaren's strong performance, especially compared to Red Bull's troubles, should encourage the senior leaders at the Woking team to support Norris in his bid for this year's world championship.

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

During a press conference at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he stated: "We must now recognize that not only is the constructors' championship within reach," Stella mentioned.

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

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

Reflecting on the events of the first lap, Piastri's actions during his side-by-side battle with Norris were beyond reproach.

His move against Norris was impressive and assertive, and it would have secured him victory at Monza if he had maintained a one-stop strategy.

Although Piastri's moves allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, he was still following 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 easily managed it with a straightforward pre-race directive regarding behavior after the initial corners.

Nevertheless, Norris cannot be exempt from criticism due to his poor defense against Piastri, which essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

There’s no question that the team must make a decision starting from the Azerbaijan race, but Norris should avoid giving Piastri reasons (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his championship chase.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen have all shown a relentless attitude towards their teammates when necessary – now it's Norris's turn to adopt the same approach.

Not Just a 'Qualifying Expert'

Leclerc is consistently delivering impressive race performances in 2024, with Monza being another example of his prowess.

Despite initially expressing frustration over Norris undermining his efforts, Leclerc showcased excellent tire management after both McLarens pitted for their second stops. This allowed him to secure a hard-fought and emotional win.

Historically, Leclerc was frequently called a 'qualifying specialist' or someone with only one skill because of his remarkable speed during qualifying sessions, usually securing the top starting position but then losing ground during the race itself.

This year's Ferrari boasts 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 proven himself to be a versatile driver who is sure to pose a significant challenge to Hamilton in the upcoming year.

Red Bull's struggles persisted at the Italian Grand Prix, where Verstappen managed to finish only in sixth place, trailing Leclerc by more than 35 seconds.

Considering their strong performance at the beginning of the season, where they dominated the initial races, it's astonishing to see them now leaving a race weekend ranked 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 status similar to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to insufficient funds and lack of development.

Red Bull possesses the necessary resources and staff to make improvements.

Red Bull is concerned because McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade for the Dutch Grand Prix. Additionally, upcoming tracks such as those in Azerbaijan and Singapore are not anticipated to favor the RB20, suggesting that further challenges are on the horizon.

Audi's new CEO, Mattia Binotto, witnessed the challenges firsthand at the Sauber garage during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

This marks the initial occasion that the ex-Ferrari leader has been seen engaging with the Hinwil team since 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 work alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will become the team principal after transitioning from Red Bull.

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

Sauber has not managed to secure a top 10 position in 2024, and their performance at Monza did not improve this record.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu finished at the very end of the starting grid, marking their team as the slowest during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto emphasized, "It's beyond our means. This team is destined to evolve into a championship-winning squad in the coming years. To achieve that, we must begin advancing and making progress. We need to build our strength for the challenges ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we must make improvements. It's crucial for us personally, for the team as a whole, for the brand, and for our partners. We simply cannot be satisfied with where we currently stand."

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