Backing Norris: McLaren’s Strategy Woes and the Push for a Title Contender

McLaren must support Lando Norris – although he must also step up

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

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McLaren found themselves in the spotlight again at the Italian Grand Prix after squandering yet another opportunity to win an F1 race.

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

McLaren's conservative strategy ended up costing them, as they opted for two pit stops while Ferrari and Charles Leclerc stuck to just one, securing a victory in their home country.

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

The bigger concern for McLaren is whether they should support Norris in his quest for the drivers' championship at this point.

Norris is trailing Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers’ championship with eight races remaining. Considering the current form of both teams, the British driver has a strong possibility of winning the title this year.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, should encourage the senior 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 boss Andrea Stella is inclined to proceed in that direction.

During an interview at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that winning the constructor championship is within our reach," Stella remarked.

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

“To aim for success in both championships, we must ensure that the team and Lando are in the best possible shape.”

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri's actions during his close racing with Norris should not be criticized.

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

Although Piastri's maneuver allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, it did not violate any of 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 it by giving straightforward instructions about behavior after the initial corners before the race started.

However, Norris also deserves some blame for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Without a doubt, the team must make a decision starting from Azerbaijan, but Norris should avoid providing Piastri with opportunities (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his championship campaign.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen have all shown an uncompromising attitude towards their teammates when the situation called for it – now it's Norris's turn to adopt a similar approach.

More than just a 'qualifying expert'

Leclerc keeps delivering impressive performances on race days in 2024, and Monza was another example of that.

Despite his early complaints about being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc skillfully managed his tyres after the McLarens pitted for their second stops and secured an emotional win.

Previously, Leclerc frequently earned the nickname ‘quali merchant’ or was considered a one-trick pony because of his remarkable speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position but then failed to maintain that lead during the race.

Thanks to the improved balance and neutral handling of this year’s Ferrari, Leclerc has demonstrated his top-tier ability in tyre management during races on Sundays.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver, poised to present a significant challenge to Hamilton in the upcoming year.

Historic decline for Red Bull

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

Considering they began the season by dominating the first few races, it's perplexing to see them now leaving a race weekend ranked as the fourth-best team.

Such a decline in performance has never been seen before.

Brawn GP transitioned from being leading race champions to a spot comparable to Red Bull's current status, primarily due to financial constraints and limited advancements.

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

A concerning issue for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. Additionally, with upcoming races in places like Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are anticipated to be unfavorable for the RB20, Red Bull might face further challenges ahead.

New Audi head Mattia Binotto experienced challenges firsthand while visiting the Sauber garage during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

This marks the first occasion we've observed the ex-Ferrari chief engaging with the Hinwil team since 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 assume the position of team principal once he transitions from Red Bull.

The Italian faces an enormous challenge as Sauber is currently at the bottom of the constructors' championship.

Sauber has not managed to secure any top 10 placements in 2024, and the situation at Monza did not improve for them.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu secured the last positions on the grid and were clearly the slowest competitors during the race.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "It's not something we can allow. Our aim is for this team to evolve into a winning squad in the future. The path to achieving that goal involves continuous improvement and advancement. We must prepare ourselves thoroughly for what's ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we definitely need to make improvements. It's crucial for us individually, vital for the team, significant for the brand, and essential for our partners. We cannot, in any way, be satisfied with our current standing."

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