Backing Norris: McLaren’s Strategic Dilemma and the Road to F1 Glory

McLaren Must Support Lando Norris, Yet He Must Step Up

An analysis of key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren's hesitation to fully support Lando Norris and his need for personal improvement.

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During the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more, squandering yet another chance at a Formula 1 victory.

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

McLaren's careful strategy backfired when they chose a two-stop plan, while Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc, opted for a one-stop strategy and ended up winning the race on their home turf.

This marks the fourth instance, following races in Canada, Britain, and perhaps Belgium, where McLaren missed a potential victory due to suboptimal strategy choices.

The more urgent matter for McLaren is whether they should now support Norris in his quest for the drivers' championship.

With eight races remaining, Norris trails Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' championship. Considering the current performance trends of both teams, the British driver stands a strong chance of clinching this year's title.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to the troubles faced by Red Bull, should inspire the senior leaders at the Woking team 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.

While speaking to the press at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he mentioned, "We must now accept the fact that winning not just the constructors' championship is within reach," Stella remarked.

"From the perspective of a driver, considering our current car performance and the challenges Red Bull is facing, it is certainly achievable."

“To accomplish both goals as a team, we must ensure that the team and Lando are in the best possible position to compete for both championships.”

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri shouldn't be faulted for his approach during his close-quarters battle with Norris.

His bold and impressive move against Norris could have secured him the victory at Monza if he had adhered to a one-stop strategy.

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

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

Nevertheless, Norris cannot be exempt from criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

It is clear that the team must make a decision starting from the Azerbaijan race, but Norris must avoid providing Piastri with reasons (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his championship chase.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen did not hesitate to be tough on their teammates when necessary – now it's Norris's turn to adopt the same approach.

Not Just a Qualifying Expert

Leclerc has consistently delivered impressive performances on race days throughout 2024, and the Monza event was no exception.

Despite his initial complaints about being outmaneuvered by Norris, Leclerc expertly managed his tires after the two McLaren drivers made their second pit stops, ultimately securing a heartfelt win.

Historically, Leclerc was frequently called a 'qualifying specialist' or limited in his skills because of his incredible speed during qualifying sessions, often securing the pole position, but then losing ground during the race.

Thanks to the improved balance and neutrality of this year's Ferrari in terms of tyre management, Leclerc has demonstrated his top-tier skill in tyre preservation during Sunday races.

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

Red Bull's unexpected decline persisted at the Italian Grand Prix, where Verstappen ended up in sixth place, trailing Leclerc by more than 35 seconds at the finish.

Considering their strong start to the season with impressive performances in the initial races, it's astonishing to see them now finishing a race weekend as only the fourth-best team.

The decline in performance is something we've never seen before.

Brawn GP, once a leading force in races, found themselves in a situation comparable to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to financial constraints and limited development.

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

The concerning aspect for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with the latest upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming tracks such as Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull may face additional challenges.

Audi's new leader, Mattia Binotto, witnessed the challenges firsthand at the Sauber garage during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

This is the initial occasion we’ve observed the previous Ferrari chief engaging with the Hinwil team since his introduction in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi's Formula 1 team, taking on the roles of Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer. He will work alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will become the team principal once he transitions from Red Bull.

The Italian faces an enormous task as Sauber is currently at the bottom of the constructors' championship standings.

Sauber hasn’t managed to secure a top 10 position in 2024, and their performance at Monza was equally disappointing.

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

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto expressed that they can't afford certain setbacks. He emphasized that their team must transform into a victorious one in the future. The path to achieving this goal involves making strides forward and advancing. He added that they need to build their strengths for the challenges ahead.

"Absolutely, we definitely need to make progress. This is essential not just for us, but also for the team, the brand, and our partners. We can't allow ourselves to be content with where we are now."

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