**”Backing Norris: McLaren’s Crucial Decision Amid Italian GP Drama and Red Bull’s Downfall”**

McLaren should start supporting Lando Norris more, although he also needs to step up his game. This article delves into the key discussions after a thrilling Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren's hesitation to fully endorse Norris.

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McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more at the Italian Grand Prix, squandering yet another potential Formula 1 race win.

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 strategy ended up costing them when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari chose a single-stop approach with Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory in their home country.

This marks the fourth time McLaren has missed a chance to secure a win, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where improved strategic choices could have led to victory.

The more urgent concern for McLaren is Norris’ quest for the drivers’ championship and deciding if it's the right moment to support him fully.

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

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, ought to inspire the top executives in Woking 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.

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

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

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

Reflecting on the events of the first lap, Piastri's actions during his close racing with Norris were entirely justified.

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

Although Piastri's moves allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, they did not contradict the team's pre-race directives.

However, considering that Norris has a real chance of becoming the world champion this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed this by giving him straightforward guidelines on how to behave after the initial corners in the race.

Nevertheless, Norris cannot be exempted from criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Undoubtedly, the team must make a decision starting in Azerbaijan. However, Norris should refrain from providing Piastri with reasons (as seen in Hungary) to disrupt his quest for the championship.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen have all shown a relentless edge when competing against their teammates. Now, it's time for Norris to adopt a similar approach.

More than just a 'qualifying expert'

Leclerc is consistently delivering strong performances during race days in 2024, with Monza being yet another example.

Despite his early complaints about being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc expertly managed his tyres after the two McLarens pitted for their second stops. This allowed him to maintain his position and secure a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc frequently earned the nickname ‘quali merchant’ or was considered a one-trick pony because of his exceptional speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position, only to underperform during the actual race.

This year's Ferrari is better balanced and has a more neutral approach to handling its tyres. As a result, Leclerc has demonstrated that his ability to preserve tyres on race days is among the top in the field.

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, as Verstappen ended up 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 perplexing that they now end a race weekend ranked as the fourth-best team.

A decline in performance like this has never happened before.

Brawn GP's transition from being dominant race winners to a position akin to Red Bull's current status was primarily due to financial constraints and insufficient development.

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

A cause for concern for Red Bull is McLaren’s recent enhancements to their car, showcased during the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, where the RB20 is not anticipated to perform well, Red Bull might face further challenges.

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

This marks the initial appearance of the ex-Ferrari chief 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 work alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will become the team principal after transitioning from Red Bull.

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

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

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

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Binotto expressed that the team is not in a position to accept failure. He emphasized that the goal is to transform the team into a championship contender in the future. To achieve this, they must begin improving immediately and build their strength for the challenges ahead.

"Indeed, I believe we must make improvements. This is crucial for us individually, for the team as a whole, for our brand, and for our partners. We cannot be satisfied with our current standing."

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