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

McLaren should start supporting Lando Norris – though he has to step up too

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

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McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more at the Italian Grand Prix, as they let another chance at an F1 grand prix win slip through their fingers.

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

McLaren's careful strategy ended up costing them as they chose a two-stop plan, while Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc, opted for a single stop and eventually secured a victory on their home turf.

This marks the fourth lost chance for McLaren, following races in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where improved strategic choices could have led to victory.

The main concern for McLaren at the moment is Norris' chase for the drivers' championship and whether it's appropriate to support him at this stage.

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

McLaren's strong performance compared to Red Bull's struggles should encourage the senior leadership at the Woking-based team to support Norris in his pursuit of this year's world championship.

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

During a media interaction at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, Stella stated, "We must now recognize that the constructors' championship is within reach."

"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 a position to compete effectively."

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri should not be faulted for his actions during the close racing with Norris.

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

Although Piastri’s actions allowed Leclerc to pass Norris, they did not violate the team's pre-race guidelines.

Nevertheless, considering the chance that Norris might realistically become the world champion this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. This situation could have been managed by the team with straightforward pre-race guidance on behavior after the initial series of turns.

Nevertheless, Norris also deserves criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially left an opportunity for his teammate to overtake him.

The team clearly has to make a choice starting from the Azerbaijan race, but Norris should avoid giving Piastri any reason, as he did in Hungary, to disrupt his championship ambitions.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen all showed no mercy towards their teammates when necessary – now it’s time for Lando Norris to follow suit.

More than just a 'qualifying expert'

Leclerc consistently delivers impressive performances on race days in 2024, with Monza being no exception.

Despite initially expressing frustration about Norris undermining his performance, Leclerc expertly managed his tires once he had a clear track after both McLarens pitted for their second stops. This allowed him to secure a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently described as a 'qualifying specialist' or someone with a singular talent because of his exceptionally fast laps during Saturday sessions, often securing pole position but then losing performance during the race.

This year's Ferrari demonstrates improved balance and a more neutral approach to tire management, allowing Leclerc to prove his exceptional skills in tire preservation during Sunday races.

Leclerc has shown that he is a versatile driver who will undoubtedly challenge Hamilton significantly next year.

Unforeseen Decline for Red Bull

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

Considering how the season began with them leading the first few races, it’s astonishing to see them now finishing a race weekend as the fourth-best team.

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

Brawn GP transitioned from being dominant race winners to experiencing a situation similar to Red Bull’s current standing, primarily due to insufficient funds and limited development.

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

The concerning issue for Red Bull is McLaren's enhancement of their vehicle following the latest upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, known for being less favorable to the RB20, Red Bull may face further challenges.

New Audi CEO Witnesses Challenges Firsthand

Mattia Binotto, the newly appointed head of Audi, was seen in the Sauber garage during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

This marks the initial occasion that we've observed the ex-Ferrari leader participating with the Hinwil team following his announcement in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi’s Formula 1 team as both the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will be working with Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the role of 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 not managed to secure a top 10 position at all in 2024, and their performance at Monza was no different.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu occupied the last positions on the starting grid, clearly lagging behind all other teams during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "We don't have the luxury for that. This team needs to evolve into a championship-winning team in the future. The path to achieving that involves making advancements and improvements. We must build our strength to prepare for what's ahead."

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

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