**”Backing Lando Norris: Time for McLaren to Make a Bold Move as Italian GP Highlights Strategic Missteps and Driver Dynamics”**

McLaren must support Lando Norris, but he also has to step up his game

Examining the key issues after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren's hesitation to fully endorse Lando Norris

Support Norris Now

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more during the Italian Grand Prix, as they let another Formula 1 win slip through their fingers.

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

McLaren's careful strategy ended up costing them, as they opted for two pit stops while Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc, chose only one stop and eventually secured a victory at their home track.

This marks the fourth instance, following races in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where McLaren could have secured a victory if they had made more effective strategic choices.

The more urgent matter for McLaren is Norris's chase 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 left, and considering the current performance trends of their respective teams, the British driver has a strong opportunity to win the title this year.

McLaren's strong performance, especially compared to Red Bull's struggles, is likely to encourage the senior leaders at the Woking team 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 course of action.

While speaking to the media at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he said, "We must now be in a position to recognize that winning the constructor championship is not the only possibility," Stella mentioned.

"Given our current car performance and the issues Red Bull is facing, success is certainly within reach, even from a driver's perspective."

"In order to aim for both championships, it's essential to ensure that the team and Lando are well-prepared."

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

His move on Norris was impressive and assertive; it would have secured him the victory at Monza if he had committed to a one-stop strategy.

Although Piastri’s actions allowed Leclerc to get ahead of Norris, they were still in line with the team’s pre-race guidelines.

Considering the chance that Norris could genuinely become the world champion this year, it was an unnecessary risk. This situation could have been managed by the team with straightforward pre-race guidance on behavior following the initial series of corners.

Nonetheless, Norris himself can't be exempt from criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Undoubtedly, the team must decide on a strategy starting from Azerbaijan, but Norris should avoid providing Piastri with reasons (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his quest for the championship.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen all demonstrated a fierce competitiveness towards their teammates when necessary. Now, it's Norris's turn to adopt the same approach.

Not Just a Qualifying Specialist

Leclerc maintained his impressive race day form in 2024, and the Monza race was no exception.

Despite his initial complaints about being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc took advantage of the clear track after both McLaren cars pitted for their second stops. He expertly managed his tyres and held on to secure a heartfelt win.

In previous times, Leclerc frequently earned the nickname of a ‘quali merchant’ or a specialist in one area because of his remarkable speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position, only to lose his advantage during the race.

This year's Ferrari, with its improved balance and neutral handling of tires, has allowed Leclerc to demonstrate his exceptional skill in tire management during races.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who will undoubtedly challenge Hamilton significantly in the upcoming year.

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

Starting the season strong with commanding performances in the initial races, it’s perplexing to see them now finishing a race weekend as only the fourth-best team.

This level of decline in performance has never been seen before.

Brawn GP transitioned from being commanding race victors to a state similar to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to insufficient funds and limited progress.

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

The concerning aspect for Red Bull is that McLaren has upgraded their car with recent improvements seen during the Dutch Grand Prix, and with upcoming tracks such as Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are anticipated to be unfavorable for the RB20, Red Bull might face further challenges.

New Audi leader witnesses challenges firsthand

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

This marks the initial occasion that we've observed the ex-Ferrari chief engaged 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 he transitions from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a monumental task as Sauber is currently at the bottom of the constructors' championship standings.

Sauber has not managed to secure a top 10 position in any race during the 2024 season, and the Monza event was no exception.

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

In a conversation with Motorsport.com, Binotto said, "We don't have the luxury to fail. Our team must evolve into a winning team in the future. The only way to achieve this is by making consistent progress and improving. We need to strengthen ourselves for what lies ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we definitely need to make improvements. It's crucial not just for us, but also for the team, the brand, and our partners. We cannot be content with where we are right now."

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