**”Backing Norris: McLaren’s Strategic Dilemma and the Italian Grand Prix Drama”**

McLaren should start supporting Lando Norris more, but he also needs to improve individually

An analysis of the key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren’s hesitancy to fully support Lando Norris

Support Norris Now

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more at the Italian Grand Prix, squandering yet another chance at an F1 grand prix win.

Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive performance at Monza, executing a bold pass on his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and then extending his lead to more than five seconds.

McLaren's conservative tactics proved costly as they chose a two-stop plan, while Ferrari opted for a one-stop strategy with Charles Leclerc, who ended up securing victory in the race held in their home country.

This marks the fourth instance of a missed chance for victory, following previous races in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where McLaren's success was hindered by suboptimal strategic choices.

A more urgent concern for McLaren is Norris aiming for the drivers' championship – and deciding if they should support him at this point.

Norris is currently trailing Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' championship with eight races remaining. 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, especially compared to Red Bull's struggles, ought to inspire the senior leaders at Woking to support Norris in his pursuit of this year's world championship.

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

At Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he informed the press: "We must now recognize that winning the constructor championship is within our reach," added Stella.

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

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

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri cannot be faulted for his handling of the side-by-side battle with Norris.

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

Although Piastri's move allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, it did not violate the team's pre-race guidelines.

Nonetheless, considering that Norris has a real chance of winning the world championship this year, the risk was unnecessary. The team could have managed it with a straightforward directive regarding behavior after the first few corners.

Nevertheless, Norris himself should be critiqued for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially left an opportunity for his teammate to overtake him.

Certainly, the team must decide on a strategy starting from Azerbaijan, but Norris should avoid providing Piastri with reasons (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his quest for the championship.

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

Not Just a Qualifying Expert

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

Despite his initial complaints about being overtaken by Norris, Leclerc expertly managed his tires once he had clear track after the two McLarens pitted for their second stops, ultimately securing a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently criticized as a 'qualifying specialist' or someone with only one skill, because he would often secure the fastest time in qualifying sessions on Saturdays but then struggle to maintain that performance during the races.

This year's Ferrari has improved balance and neutral handling of its tyres, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate his exceptional tyre management skills on Sundays, putting him among the top performers.

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

Historic Decline for Red Bull

Red Bull's slump persisted at the Italian Grand Prix, where Verstappen managed only a sixth-place finish, trailing Leclerc by more than 35 seconds at the conclusion.

Considering their strong start to the season, where they controlled the initial races, it is surprising that they now leave a race weekend ranked as the fourth-best team.

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

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

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

The concerning aspect for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are anticipated to be unfavorable for the RB20, more challenges seem imminent.

New Audi head Mattia Binotto witnessed challenges firsthand

Mattia Binotto, the new leader of Audi, was in the Sauber garage during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

This marks the initial occasion that we have observed 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 huge challenge as Sauber is currently at the bottom of the constructors’ championship standings.

Sauber has yet to achieve a top 10 finish in the 2024 season, and their performance at Monza was no exception.

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

Binotto explained to Motorsport.com that the team doesn't have the luxury of time or resources to delay progress. He emphasized the necessity for the team to evolve into a championship-winning force. According to him, the path to achieving this goal involves continuous improvement and preparation for future challenges.

"Absolutely, I believe we need to get better. It's crucial for us individually, for the team as a whole, for the brand, and for our partners. We can't be satisfied with where we currently stand."

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