Backing Norris: McLaren’s Strategic Missteps and the Path to F1 Glory

McLaren must support Lando Norris, yet he must also step up his game

An analysis of the key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, centering on McLaren's hesitance to fully endorse Lando Norris

Support for Norris is due

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight during the Italian Grand Prix as they let another F1 win slip through their fingers.

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

McLaren's conservative tactics ended up costing them when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc, chose a one-stop strategy and ended up securing a victory in their home race.

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

Nonetheless, the more urgent concern for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship – and deciding if it's time to fully support him now.

With eight races remaining, Norris trails Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' standings. Considering the current performance trends of their teams, the British driver is well-positioned to compete for this year's title.

The strong performance of McLaren compared to Red Bull's struggles should inspire the top executives at the Woking team to support Norris in his bid for 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 press conference at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that winning the constructors' championship is within our reach," Stella mentioned.

"Given 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 accomplish both objectives as a team, we must ensure that both the team and Lando are in the best possible position to compete for both championships."

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

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

Although it allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, Piastri's move was in line with the team's pre-race guidelines.

However, considering the chance that Norris might actually win the world championship this year, taking such a risk was unnecessary. The team could have easily managed it with straightforward pre-race guidance on behavior after the initial set of corners.

Nonetheless, Norris himself cannot be exempt from criticism for his lackluster defense against Piastri, essentially allowing his teammate an easy pass.

Clearly, the team must decide on a course of action starting from the Azerbaijan race, but Norris should avoid providing Piastri with reasons (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his championship ambitions.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen have all demonstrated a fierce competitive edge when facing their teammates. Now, it's crucial for Lando Norris to adopt a similar approach.

Beyond Just a 'Qualifying Expert'

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

Initially, he expressed frustration about being outpaced by Norris. However, after both McLaren cars pitted for their second stops, Leclerc expertly conserved his tyres in clean air and held on to secure a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc frequently earned the reputation of being a 'qualifying specialist' or a one-dimensional driver because of his incredible speed during Saturday qualifying sessions, where he often secured pole position but then struggled to maintain his lead during the race.

This year's Ferrari, which has improved balance and a more neutral handling of its tyres, has allowed Leclerc to demonstrate his exceptional skill in tyre management during races, placing him among the top drivers in this aspect.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver, and he's expected to pose a significant challenge to Hamilton in the coming year.

Unexpected Decline for Red Bull

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

Considering their strong start to the season, where they excelled in the first few races, it's astonishing to see them now finishing a race weekend as only the fourth-best team.

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

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

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

The concerning issue for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with the latest upgrade at the Dutch GP. With tracks like Azerbaijan and Singapore on the horizon, which are predicted to be unfavorable for the RB20, Red Bull may face additional challenges ahead.

Newly appointed Audi CEO Mattia Binotto experienced challenges first-hand while attending the Italian GP in the Sauber garage this weekend.

This marks the initial appearance of the ex-Ferrari chief with the Hinwil team since his announcement in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi's Formula 1 team as the Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer, working alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the role of team principal once he makes the move from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a massive challenge as Sauber is currently at the bottom of the constructors’ championship standings.

Sauber did not manage to secure a top 10 position throughout 2024, and the situation at Monza was no different for the team.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu occupied the last positions on the grid and were clearly the least competitive team during the race.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "We don't have the luxury of staying stagnant. Our goal is to transform this team into a winning one in the future. The path to achieving that involves continuous improvement and advancement. We must prepare ourselves for future challenges."

"Absolutely, I believe there's a definite need for improvement. It's crucial for us personally, for the team as a whole, for our brand, and for our partners. We simply cannot be satisfied with where we are right now."

Explore Further

Recent Updates

Recent Updates

Site Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

It is prohibited to reproduce any portion of the text, images, or drawings in any manner.