Backing Norris: McLaren’s Crucial Decision Amidst Italian GP Drama and Red Bull’s Downfall

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

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

Support for Norris is crucial

During the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more as they squandered another opportunity to win an F1 race.

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 tactics ended up costing them when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc went with just one stop and secured victory in his home race.

This marks the fourth instance, following races in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where McLaren could have secured victories if they had implemented more effective strategy choices.

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

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

The outstanding performance of McLaren, compared to the troubles faced by Red Bull, should inspire the top executives at the Woking-based team to support Norris in his quest for this year's world championship.

Following the Monza event, it seems that team leader Andrea Stella is inclined to take this action.

During an interview at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he stated, "At this point, we must recognize that the constructors' championship is within reach," Stella mentioned.

"Considering the current performance of our car and the difficulties Red Bull is experiencing, it is certainly achievable even from a driver's perspective."

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

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri should not be faulted for his actions during the on-track battle with Norris.

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

Though Leclerc was able to pass Norris because of it, Piastri’s behavior did not violate the team’s pre-race guidelines.

Nevertheless, considering the chance that Norris might actually win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed this by giving him straightforward guidelines on behavior following the initial corners before the race began.

Nonetheless, Norris cannot be exempted from criticism for his feeble defense against Piastri, which essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Clearly, the team must decide on a course of action starting with the Azerbaijan race, but Norris should avoid providing Piastri with reasons (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his championship ambitions.

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

More than just a 'qualifying expert'

Leclerc keeps delivering impressive race day performances in 2024, with Monza being yet another example.

Despite his initial complaints about being overtaken by Norris, Leclerc expertly maintained his tyres after both McLaren cars made their second pit stops, ultimately securing a heartfelt win.

Historically, people frequently branded Leclerc as a ‘qualifying specialist’ or someone with just one skill because of his exceptional speed during Saturday's qualifying sessions, where he often secured pole position but then failed to maintain that performance during the race.

This year's Ferrari has improved balance and a more neutral approach to tire management, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate on Sundays that his tire preservation skills are among the top in the field.

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

Red Bull's performance took a sharp dive at the Italian Grand Prix, with Verstappen ending 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 astonishing to see them now leaving a race weekend as the fourth-best team.

A decline in performance like this has never been seen before.

Brawn GP transitioned from being dominant race winners to a situation comparable to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to financial constraints and limited development.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary assets and staff to improve their situation.

The concerning issue for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. Additionally, with upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, tracks that are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull might face further challenges.

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

This marks the initial occasion that the ex-Ferrari chief has been observed participating 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 with Jonathan Wheatley, who will become the team principal after transitioning from Red Bull.

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

Sauber has not managed to secure a top 10 spot at all in 2024, and their performance at Monza followed the same disappointing trend.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu secured the final positions on the grid, with their team being the clear backmarkers during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "It's not something we can allow ourselves. This team must evolve into a winning team in the future. The path to achieving that is by making strides forward and improving. We need to build our strength for what lies ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we must make improvements. It's crucial for our own benefit, for the team's success, for the brand's reputation, and for our partners. We can't settle for where we are right now."

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