Backing Norris: McLaren’s Strategic Dilemma Amid Italian GP Drama and Red Bull’s Downfall

McLaren Should Support Lando Norris More – But He Must Step Up

Analyzing the key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, emphasizing McLaren’s hesitation to fully support Lando Norris.

Support for Norris is due.

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

Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive performance at Monza, making a bold move to pass his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and eventually building a lead of more than five seconds.

McLaren's careful strategy ended up costing them as they chose to go with two pit stops, while Ferrari opted for just one stop with Charles Leclerc, who went on to win the race in front of their home crowd.

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

Nevertheless, the primary concern for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship – and determining if it is the right moment to support him fully.

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

McLaren's remarkable performance, especially when compared to Red Bull's difficulties, should inspire the senior managers at Woking to support Norris in pursuing the world championship this year.

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

During a media interaction at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that achieving not just the constructors' championship is within reach," Stella commented.

"Considering the current performance of our car 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 position to compete."

Reflecting on the events of the first lap, Piastri's actions during his close racing with Norris warrant no disapproval.

His move on Norris was remarkable and assertive. Had he followed a one-stop strategy, it likely would have secured him the victory at Monza.

Although Piastri's actions allowed Leclerc to pass Norris, he did not go against the team's pre-race directives.

However, considering the real chance that Norris could clinch the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed this by giving clear pre-race guidelines about behavior after the initial corners.

Nonetheless, Norris also deserves criticism for his lackluster defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate an easy pass.

There’s no question that the team must decide on a course of action starting with the race in Azerbaijan. However, Norris must refrain from providing Piastri with reasons, as he did in Hungary, to disrupt his championship quest.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen have all shown a fierce competitive edge against their teammates when necessary. Now, it's time for Lando Norris to adopt the same approach.

More than just a qualifying expert

Leclerc remains impressive during races in 2024, including a strong showing at Monza.

Despite his initial complaints about being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc showcased excellent tyre management after both McLarens pitted for their second stops. He then held on to secure a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently described as a 'qualifying expert' or a specialist with only one skill because of his incredible speed during Saturday's qualifying sessions, where he often secured pole position but then lost ground during the race itself.

This year's Ferrari has improved balance and a more neutral handling of its tyres, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tyre management during Sunday races.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who is likely to pose a significant challenge to Hamilton in the coming year.

Unpredictable Decline for Red Bull

Red Bull's struggles persisted at the Italian Grand Prix, where Verstappen managed to secure only a sixth-place finish, trailing more than 35 seconds behind Leclerc.

Considering their strong start to the season, where they excelled 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 dominant winners in races to a status comparable to Red Bull's current position, primarily due to insufficient funding and limited advancements.

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

The concern for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent update for the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming tracks like Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are not anticipated to favor the RB20, additional challenges are likely on the horizon.

New Audi CEO witnesses challenges firsthand

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

This marks the initial occasion we've observed the ex-Ferrari chief engaging with the Hinwil team since 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. He will be working alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the position of team principal after his transition from Red Bull.

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

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

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu secured the last positions on the grid, making their team the slowest during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "We can't afford this. Our team needs to evolve into a winning team in the future, and the only way to achieve that is by making progress and moving forward. We must prepare ourselves for what's ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we definitely need to make improvements. This is crucial not just for us, but also for the team, the brand, and our partners. We can't be satisfied with where we are currently."

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