Backing Norris: McLaren’s Strategy Woes Amid Dramatic Italian GP and Red Bull’s Unprecedented Downfall

McLaren Must Support Lando Norris, but He Also Needs to Step Up

An analysis of key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren's hesitation to fully support Lando Norris.

Support Norris

During the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more after letting another potential F1 win slip through their fingers.

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

McLaren's careful strategy ended up working against them as they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc, chose a one-stop approach and eventually secured a victory in their home race.

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

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

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

The remarkable performance of McLaren, compared to the difficulties faced by Red Bull, ought to inspire the higher-ups at the Woking-based team to support Norris in his pursuit of this year's world championship.

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

At Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he stated to the press, "We must now recognize that winning not only the constructors' championship is within reach," Stella added.

"From a driver's perspective, considering our current car performance and the difficulties Red Bull is experiencing, it's certainly achievable."

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

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

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

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

Nevertheless, considering the chance of Norris potentially winning the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary risk. The team could have easily managed it by giving him clear instructions about his behavior after the initial series of corners before the race.

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

Undoubtedly, the team must decide starting with the Azerbaijan event, but Norris must cease providing Piastri with reasons (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his chase for the championship.

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

Not Just a 'Qualifying Specialist'

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

Despite initially expressing frustration about being overtaken by Norris, Leclerc expertly managed his tires once he had open track after the two McLarens pitted for their second stops. This allowed him to secure a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc earned the nickname of a 'quali merchant' or a one-trick pony because of his incredible speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he frequently secured pole position, only to lose ground during the actual race.

This year’s Ferrari car has improved balance and a more neutral handling of its tyres, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tyre management during Sunday races.

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

Unheard-of decline for Red Bull

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

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

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

Brawn GP transitioned from being consistent race winners to their current state, similar to Red Bull's position, primarily due to insufficient funds and limited advancements.

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

The concerning aspect 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 challenges.

New Audi CEO witnesses challenges first-hand

New Audi leader Mattia Binotto attended the Sauber pit during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

This marks the initial occasion we've observed the ex-Ferrari leader engaged with the Hinwil team following his announcement in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi's Formula 1 team as both Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer, working alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the role of team principal upon his future transfer from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a huge challenge as Sauber is currently last in the constructors' championship.

Sauber has not managed to secure a top 10 position in any race during 2024, and the outcome at Monza was no different for the team.

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

Binotto shared with Motorsport.com that it's not within their budget. He emphasized the necessity for the team to evolve into a victorious one in the future. The path to achieving this, he added, involves making steady progress and building strength for the challenges ahead.

"Absolutely, we definitely need to get better. It's essential for our own sake, for the team's success, for the brand's reputation, and for our partners. We can't be satisfied with where we are right now."

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