**”Backing Norris: McLaren’s Strategic Gamble and the Quest for F1 Glory”**

McLaren Should Show More Support for Lando Norris, but He Must Step Up Too

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

Support Norris Now

During the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more after losing 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 subsequently extending his lead to more than five seconds.

McLaren's conservative tactics proved costly as they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc, chose a one-stop strategy and eventually clinched victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth occasion, following races in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where McLaren might have secured a win if they had made smarter strategic choices.

Nevertheless, the immediate concern for McLaren is Norris' chase for the drivers' title and deciding if the moment has arrived to support him fully.

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

McLaren's remarkable performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, should inspire the top executives at the Woking team to support Norris in his quest for this year's world championship.

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

While speaking to the press at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he stated, "At this point, we must recognize that the constructors' championship is within reach," Stella remarked.

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

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

Reflecting on the first lap, it's clear that Piastri shouldn't be faulted for his approach during the close racing with Norris.

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

Although Piastri's actions allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, he did not go against the team's pre-race directives.

However, considering the chance that Norris might actually win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have managed it easily by providing clear guidelines on behavior after the first few corners before the race started.

Nonetheless, Norris also deserves criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Clearly, the team must make a decision starting from the Azerbaijan race, but Norris must stop providing Piastri with reasons (as seen in Hungary) to disrupt his quest for the championship.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen have all been uncompromising with their teammates when necessary. Now, it's time for Lando Norris to adopt the same approach.

Exceeding Expectations

Leclerc consistently delivers impressive performances on race days in 2024, and the Monza event was no exception.

Despite initially expressing frustrations about Norris undermining his performance, Leclerc showcased excellent tyre management once he had a clear track after both McLarens pitted for their second stops. This allowed him to maintain his lead and secure a heartfelt win.

Historically, Leclerc was frequently described as a 'quali merchant' or a one-dimensional driver because of his incredible speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position only to lose ground during the race itself.

This year's Ferrari, which offers improved balance and neutral handling of its tires, has allowed Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tire management on race Sundays.

Leclerc has shown that he is a versatile driver who will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge to Hamilton in the upcoming year.

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

Considering their strong start to the season, where they dominated the initial races, it's astonishing that they now finish race weekends as the fourth-best team.

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

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

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

The concerning aspect for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with the latest upgrade introduced 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 further challenges.

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

This marks the initial occasion we’ve witnessed 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 his transition from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a monumental challenge as Sauber currently sits last in the constructors' championship.

Sauber has not managed to secure any top 10 placements in 2024, and the race at Monza did not improve their standings.

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

In a conversation with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "It's not something we can afford. Our goal is to transform this team into a victorious one in the future. To achieve that, we need to start climbing up and making progress. We must prepare ourselves for future challenges."

"Absolutely, I believe improvement is necessary. It's crucial not just for us, but also for the team, the brand, and our partners. We can't be satisfied with where we are now."

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