**”Backing Norris: McLaren’s Strategic Quandary and Unforeseen Red Bull Downfall Shape F1 Landscape”**

McLaren must now fully support Lando Norris – although he must also step up his game

An analysis of key discussions after the intense Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren's hesitation to fully endorse Lando Norris

Support Norris Now

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more during the Italian Grand Prix, where they let another Formula 1 race win slip through their fingers.

Oscar Piastri executed an impressive performance at Monza, making a bold move to pass his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and subsequently building a lead of more than five seconds.

McLaren's conservative strategy proved to be a misstep, as they decided on two pit stops while Ferrari opted for a single stop with Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth instance, following races in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where McLaren had a clear chance to secure a win but fell short due to suboptimal strategy choices.

Nonetheless, McLaren faces a more urgent matter: Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and the question of whether they should support him now.

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

McLaren's strong performance, especially when compared to Red Bull's current struggles, is likely to encourage the top executives 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 take that course of action.

Speaking to the press at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, Stella stated, "We must now recognize that winning the constructor's championship is within our reach."

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

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

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

His move against Norris was impressive and assertive, and it would have led to a victory at Monza if he had committed to a one-stop strategy.

Although Piastri's maneuvers allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, they were still in line with the team's pre-race guidelines.

Nonetheless, considering the chance that Norris could realistically win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary risk. The team could have easily managed it with straightforward pre-race guidance regarding behavior beyond the first few corners.

Nonetheless, Norris cannot be exempt from criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

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

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen all demonstrated a fierce competitive edge against their teammates when necessary – now it's Norris's turn to adopt the same approach.

Not Just a 'Qualifying Specialist'

Leclerc has been delivering impressive race day performances throughout 2024, and Monza was another example of his consistency.

Despite initially expressing concerns about being outperformed by Norris, Leclerc skillfully managed his tires after both McLaren cars made their second pit stops, ultimately securing a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc frequently earned the nickname of a 'qualifying specialist' or was called a one-dimensional driver because of his incredible speed during qualifying sessions, often securing pole position but then losing ground during the actual race.

This year's Ferrari has improved balance and a more neutral approach to tire management, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate his skills in tire preservation during races, proving he is among the top performers.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver and is expected to pose a significant challenge to Hamilton in the upcoming year.

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

Considering their strong start to the season, where they controlled the initial races, it's perplexing to see them finish a race weekend as only the fourth-best team.

This level of decline in performance has never been seen before.

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

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

A concerning development for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull may face further difficulties.

New Audi CEO witnesses challenges firsthand

Audi's new leader, Mattia Binotto, was spotted in the Sauber garage during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

This marks the initial occasion that the ex-Ferrari chief has been spotted working 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. He will be working alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the role of team principal upon his future 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 secured a top 10 finish at all in 2024, and their performance at Monza was no different.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu started from the last row of the grid, being the slowest team during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "It's not something we can allow. Our goal is for this team to become a victorious one in the future. The sole method to achieve this is by advancing and making progress. We must strengthen ourselves for what's ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we have to make improvements. This is crucial for our own sake, for the team's success, for the brand's reputation, and for our partners. We cannot be satisfied with where we currently stand."

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