**”Backing Norris: McLaren’s Strategic Crossroads After Dramatic Italian GP”**

McLaren must show support for Lando Norris, though he also has room for improvement

Analyzing the key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren's hesitation to fully support Lando Norris

Support for Norris is essential

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more at the Italian Grand Prix after squandering yet another chance to win a Formula 1 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 conservative tactics ended up costing them as they opted for two pit stops, while Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc, chose a single-stop strategy and eventually secured a victory at their home track.

This marks the fourth lost chance for McLaren to secure a win, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and possibly Belgium, where improved strategy choices could have made the difference.

The more urgent matter for McLaren involves Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and determining if it's the right moment to support him fully.

With eight races remaining, Norris trails 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 this year's title.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, ought to inspire the senior leadership 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 proceed in that direction.

During a media briefing at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, he stated: "At this point, we need to recognize that winning the constructor championship is within our reach," Stella remarked.

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

“To win both championships, we must ensure that the team and Lando are in the best possible shape to compete.”

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

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

Even though Piastri's actions allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, they did not violate the pre-race directives given by the team.

However, considering the chance that Norris might actually clinch the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed this risk with straightforward pre-race guidance about behavior beyond the first few corners.

Nonetheless, Norris should also face criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

There's no question that the team must come to a decision starting from the Azerbaijan race, but Norris has to cease providing Piastri with reasons (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his championship chase.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen were all unyielding when competing against their teammates when necessary – now it's Norris's turn to follow suit.

Not Just a 'Qualifying Specialist'

Leclerc maintains his impressive race day form in 2024, with Monza being yet another example.

Despite his initial complaints about being undermined by Norris, Leclerc excelled in managing his tyres after the two McLarens pitted for their second stops, ultimately securing a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently criticized as being a specialist in qualifying sessions, earning the nickname of a 'quali merchant'. This was due to his impressive speed on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position, only to lose ground during the race itself.

This year's Ferrari, being more balanced and neutral in its tyre management, has allowed Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tyre preservation on race days.

Leclerc has shown that he is a versatile driver who is likely to challenge Hamilton significantly in the upcoming year.

Red Bull's struggles reached new heights at the Italian Grand Prix, where Verstappen ended up in sixth place, trailing Leclerc by more than 35 seconds.

Considering their strong start to the season, where they dominated the initial races, it's astonishing that they are now leaving a race weekend as the fourth-best team.

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

Brawn GP's transition from a leading team to a position comparable to Red Bull's current status was primarily due to insufficient funding and limited advancements.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary resources and team members to improve their situation.

A cause for concern for Red Bull is McLaren's recent enhancement of their vehicle with the Dutch Grand Prix upgrade. With upcoming tracks like Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are anticipated to be less favorable for the RB20, Red Bull may face further challenges.

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

This marks the initial occasion we have observed the ex-Ferrari leader engaged with the Hinwil team following his announcement in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi’s Formula 1 team in the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer, partnering with Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the role of 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 hasn't managed to secure a top 10 finish at all in 2024, and their performance at Monza was no exception.

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

In a conversation with Motorsport.com, Binotto expressed that their team doesn't have the luxury of time. He emphasized that their goal is to transform into a victorious team in the future. To achieve this, they need to start advancing and improving now. Preparing themselves for future challenges is essential.

"Absolutely, I believe we must make improvements. This is crucial for us personally, for the team, for our brand, and for our partners. We cannot be satisfied with where we are right now."

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