Backing Norris: McLaren’s Strategic Dilemmas and F1 Drama at the Italian Grand Prix

McLaren Must Support Lando Norris, Yet He Has to Step Up Too

An analysis of the key discussions after a thrilling Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren’s hesitation to fully support Lando Norris.

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

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

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

This marks the fourth instance where McLaren could have secured a victory, following missed chances in Canada, Britain, and perhaps Belgium, had they made better strategic choices.

The more urgent concern for McLaren is Norris’ quest for the drivers’ title and deciding if they should support him at this point.

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

The strong performance of McLaren, especially compared to Red Bull's struggles, is likely to encourage the senior leaders at Woking to support Norris in his bid for this year's world championship.

Following the Monza event, it seems that team leader Andrea Stella is inclined to proceed in that direction.

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

"Considering the current performance of our car and the difficulties Red Bull is experiencing, achieving success seems entirely feasible from a driver's perspective."

"In order to aim for both championships, we must ensure that the team and Lando are in the best possible shape to compete."

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri's actions during his side-by-side contest with Norris were beyond reproach.

His move on Norris was impressive and bold, and it could have secured him the victory at Monza if he had followed a one-stop strategy.

Although it allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, Piastri’s behavior was in line with 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—one that the team could have easily managed with straightforward pre-race guidelines about behavior beyond the initial set of turns.

Nevertheless, Norris also deserves some criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, which essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

There’s no question that the team must decide on a course of action starting with the Azerbaijan event. 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 merciless determination against their teammates when necessary – now it's time for Lando Norris to follow suit.

More than just a qualifying expert

Leclerc has consistently delivered impressive race day performances in 2024, and Monza was no exception.

Despite initially expressing concerns about being undermined by Norris, Leclerc skillfully managed his tyres after gaining a clear track when both McLarens pitted for their second stops, ultimately securing a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently called a 'quali merchant' or a one-trick pony because of his exceptional speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position but then failed to maintain that performance during the race.

The improved balance and neutrality in this year's Ferrari have allowed Leclerc to demonstrate his exceptional skills in tyre management during races, ranking him among the top drivers.

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

Historic Decline for Red Bull

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

Considering their strong start to the season, where they excelled in the initial races, it is astonishing that they have now finished a race weekend as the fourth-best team.

A decline in performance of this magnitude has never been seen before.

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

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

The concerning situation for Red Bull is that McLaren has upgraded their car following the recent Dutch Grand Prix, and with upcoming tracks like Azerbaijan and Singapore that are not anticipated to favor the RB20, more challenges are expected ahead.

New Head of Audi Experiences Challenges Firsthand

Audi's newly appointed leader, Mattia Binotto, attended the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, observing from the Sauber garage.

This is the inaugural 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 as both Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer, alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the role of team principal after his move 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 single top 10 position in 2024, and their performance at Monza did not improve.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu started from the last row on the grid and were clearly the slowest team during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "We don't have the luxury for that. Our team needs to evolve into a winning one in the future, and the only path to achieve this is by making strides forward. We must start preparing and strengthening for what's ahead."

"Therefore, I believe it's crucial for us to make improvements. This is essential not only for our own benefit but also for the team's success, the brand's reputation, and our partners' satisfaction. We cannot settle for our current standing."

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