F1
Backing Norris: McLaren’s Strategic Dilemma and the Unfolding Drama at the Italian Grand Prix
It’s time for McLaren to support Lando Norris – but he must also step up his game
An analysis of key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, centering on McLaren’s hesitation to fully support Lando Norris
Support Norris now
McLaren found themselves in the limelight once more at the Italian Grand Prix, squandering yet another opportunity for an F1 race win.
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 strategy backfired when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari chose a one-stop strategy with Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory for Leclerc in his home race.
This marks the fourth missed chance for McLaren, following Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where improved strategic choices could have led to a win.
Nevertheless, a more urgent matter for McLaren is Norris's quest for the drivers' championship and determining if the moment has come to fully support him.
Norris is only 62 points away from Max Verstappen in the drivers' standings with eight races remaining. Considering the current performance trends of their teams, the British driver stands a strong chance of winning the championship this year.
McLaren's strong performance, compared to the difficulties faced by Red Bull, should encourage the top executives 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.
During a media briefing at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, he stated, "At this point, we must recognize that winning the constructors' championship is within reach," Stella remarked.
"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 strive for 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 side-by-side battle with Norris.
His move on Norris was breathtaking and assertive, and it would have secured him the victory at Monza if he had committed to a single-stop strategy.
Although Piastri's move allowed Leclerc to pass Norris, it was in line with the team's pre-race guidelines.
Nevertheless, considering the chance that Norris might actually win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have managed this by giving straightforward instructions about behavior after the first few corners before the race started.
Nevertheless, Norris also deserves criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.
It's clear that the team must make a choice starting from the Azerbaijan race, but Norris should avoid 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 a similar approach.
Leclerc is proving to be more than just a qualifying expert, consistently delivering strong performances on race days in 2024, with Monza being yet another example.
Despite his initial complaints about being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc skillfully managed his tires once he had open track after both McLarens pitted for their second stops. This allowed him to hold on and secure a heartfelt win.
Previously, Leclerc earned a reputation for being exceptionally quick during qualifying sessions, often securing pole position on Saturdays, but then failing to maintain that performance in the actual races.
This year's Ferrari boasts improved balance and neutral handling of its tires, enabling Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tire management during Sunday races.
Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who is sure to challenge Hamilton significantly in the upcoming year.
Red Bull's slump persists
At the Italian Grand Prix, Red Bull's struggles carried on as Verstappen ended up in sixth place, trailing Leclerc by more than 35 seconds at the finish.
Considering their strong start to the season, where they dominated the first few races, it is perplexing to see them finishing a race weekend as only the fourth-best team.
This level of performance decline has never been seen before.
Brawn GP transitioned from being leading race victors to a status comparable to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to insufficient funds and development efforts.
Red Bull possesses the necessary resources and team members to make improvements.
A concerning development for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade introduced at the Dutch Grand Prix. Given that upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull may face further challenges.
New Audi CEO Mattia Binotto witnessed the challenges firsthand in the Sauber garage during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.
This marks the initial appearance of the ex-Ferrari chief with the Hinwil team after his announcement in July.
Binotto is set to lead Audi's Formula 1 team in the dual role of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will be joined by Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the role of team principal after moving from Red Bull.
The Italian faces a monumental challenge as Sauber is currently at the bottom of the constructors' championship standings.
Sauber has not managed to achieve a top 10 position at all in 2024, and their performance at Monza did not improve this record.
Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu occupied the last positions on the grid and were clearly the slowest team during the race.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Binotto expressed, "We can't afford this. Our team needs to evolve into a winning one in the future. The only path to achieving that is by making progress and advancing steadily. We must strengthen our capabilities for what's ahead."
"Absolutely, I believe that we must make improvements. This is crucial for us personally, for our team, for our brand, and for our partners. We can't accept staying in our current situation."
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