Backing Norris: McLaren’s Strategic Mishaps, Norris’ Championship Hopes, and F1’s Dramatic Italian GP

It's crucial for McLaren to support Lando Norris – yet he must also elevate his own performance

Examining the key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, spotlighting McLaren's hesitance to fully endorse Lando Norris

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

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

McLaren's careful tactics backfired when they chose a two-stop plan, while Ferrari opted for a single stop with Charles Leclerc, who ended up securing a victory in front of his home crowd.

This marks the fourth missed chance for McLaren to secure a victory, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where improved strategic choices could have led to a win.

The more urgent concern for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and whether they should support him at this stage.

With only eight races remaining, Norris is trailing Max Verstappen by 62 points in the drivers' championship. Considering the current performance trends of their respective teams, the British driver has a strong opportunity to clinch the title this year.

The remarkable performance of McLaren, especially when compared to Red Bull's struggles, should encourage the top executives at the Woking-based team to support Norris in his bid for this year's world championship.

Following the Monza event, it seems team principal Andrea Stella is considering this course of action.

While speaking to the media at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that the constructor championship is achievable,” Stella mentioned.

"Considering the current performance of our car and the difficulties Red Bull is experiencing, it certainly seems achievable, even from a driver's perspective."

“To win both championships, we must ensure that the team and Lando are in optimal condition to compete.”

Reflecting on the events of the first lap, Piastri's actions during his close racing with Norris were entirely justifiable.

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

Although Piastri's maneuvers allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, they were still 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 easily managed this with a straightforward pre-race directive regarding behavior after the initial corners.

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

Clearly, the team must decide on a course of action starting with the Azerbaijan race. However, Norris should avoid providing Piastri with opportunities, as seen in Hungary, that could disrupt his championship ambitions.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen all showed no mercy toward their teammates when necessary – now it's Norris's turn to follow suit.

Beyond just a qualifying expert

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

Despite his initial grievances about Norris undercutting him, Leclerc demonstrated excellent tyre management after both McLarens pitted for their second stops. This allowed him to maintain his position and secure an emotional win.

Historically, Leclerc frequently earned the nickname of 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 struggled to maintain that performance during the actual race.

This year's Ferrari, which boasts improved balance and a more neutral approach to tire handling, has allowed Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tire management during Sunday races.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who is likely to challenge Hamilton significantly next year.

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

Considering their strong start to the season by leading the first few races, it's surprising that they have now finished a race weekend as only the fourth-best team.

A decline in performance like this has never happened before.

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

Red Bull possesses the necessary resources and staff to improve the situation.

Concerns are mounting for Red Bull as McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade introduced at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, tracks that may not favor the RB20, Red Bull might face further challenges.

New Audi CEO Witnesses Challenges Firsthand

Audi's new leader, Mattia Binotto, observed the difficulties from the Sauber garage during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

This is the initial instance of the ex-Ferrari chief being engaged with the Hinwil team since his announcement in July.

Binotto will lead Audi's Formula 1 team as the Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer, working alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will become the team principal when he makes the move from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a colossal challenge as Sauber is currently at the bottom of the constructors' standings.

Sauber hasn't managed to secure a top 10 position at all in 2024, and their performance at Monza didn't improve their record.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu ended up in the last row of the starting grid, making them the slowest team during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "It's not something we can afford. Our goal is to transform this team into a winning one in the future. To achieve that, we must start improving and advancing. We need to build our strength for the challenges ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we must make improvements. This is crucial for us personally, for the team, for the brand, and for our partners. We cannot be content with our current situation."

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