**”Backing Norris: McLaren’s Dilemma Amid Dramatic Italian GP and Red Bull’s Crisis”**

McLaren Must Show More Support for Lando Norris, Though He Also Needs to Step Up

Examining the key issues after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, with particular attention on McLaren's hesitation to fully support Lando Norris.

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McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more at the Italian Grand Prix, where they squandered yet another chance at an F1 race win.

Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive performance at Monza, executing a bold pass on his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and subsequently pulling ahead by more than five seconds.

McLaren's conservative strategy proved costly as 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 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 critical concern for McLaren now is Norris' chase for the drivers' championship and deciding if they should support him at this stage.

With eight races left in the season, 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 strong performance of McLaren compared to the struggles faced by Red Bull should encourage the top executives at the Woking-based team to support Norris in his quest for this year's world championship.

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

During a media briefing at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that not only is the constructors' championship attainable," Stella remarked.

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

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

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

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

Although Piastri's maneuver allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, it was in line with the team's pre-race directives.

Nevertheless, considering the chance that Norris could genuinely win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. This situation could have been managed by the team with straightforward pre-race guidance on behavior past the initial set of corners.

Nevertheless, Norris deserves some criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Without a doubt, the team must decide on a course of action starting from the Azerbaijan race. However, Norris must refrain from providing Piastri with reasons, as he did in Hungary, to disrupt his championship ambitions.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen all showed no mercy towards their teammates when the situation demanded it. Now, it’s time for Norris to follow suit.

Beyond a 'qualifying expert'

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

Despite initially expressing frustration over being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc expertly managed his tyres once the two McLaren cars pitted for their second stops, ultimately securing a hard-fought and emotional win.

Historically, Leclerc was frequently criticized for being exceptionally fast during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, earning him the nickname of a 'quali merchant' or a one-trick pony, as he would often secure pole position but then struggle to maintain that performance during the actual races.

This year's Ferrari boasts improved balance and a more neutral tire management, enabling Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tire preservation during Sunday races.

Leclerc has shown that he is a versatile driver who will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge to Hamilton in the upcoming 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 first several races, it is 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.

Brawn GP transitioned from being dominant race victors to a status akin to Red Bull's current position, primarily due to insufficient funding and limited development.

Red Bull possess all the necessary assets and team members to improve the situation.

A concerning factor for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with an upgrade introduced at the recent Dutch Grand Prix. Given that upcoming tracks such as those in Azerbaijan and Singapore are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull may face further challenges ahead.

New Audi leader witnesses challenges firsthand

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

This marks the initial occasion that the ex-Ferrari leader has been seen engaging with the Hinwil team since his announcement in July.

Binotto will lead Audi’s Formula 1 team as both 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 Red Bull.

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

Sauber has not managed to achieve a top 10 position at all in 2024, and their performance at Monza was no exception.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu occupied the last positions on the grid, marking their team as the slowest during the race.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "It's not something we can allow ourselves. Our goal is to evolve into a victorious team. The path to achieving that is by making steady progress and improving continually. We have to strengthen our capabilities for what lies ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe there's a definite need for improvement. It's crucial not just for us personally, but also for the team's success, the brand's reputation, and our partners' interests. We simply can't be satisfied with where we are right now."

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