**”High Stakes and High Drama: McLaren’s Dilemma with Lando Norris, Red Bull’s Downfall, and Leclerc’s Rise at the Italian GP”**

McLaren should support Lando Norris, but he must also step up

Analyzing the key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren’s hesitation to fully endorse Lando Norris

Support Norris

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more at the Italian Grand Prix, squandering yet another chance to clinch an F1 victory.

Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive performance at Monza, executing a daring pass on his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and eventually pulling ahead by more than five seconds.

McLaren's careful strategy proved costly when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari chose a one-stop tactic with Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory in their home race.

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 might have led to a win.

The more urgent matter for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and whether they should start supporting him now.

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

McLaren's strong performance, especially when compared to Red Bull's struggles, should encourage the leadership 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 take that course of action.

While speaking to the press at Monza, a location where Crash.net was also in attendance, he stated: "At this point, we must recognize that not just the constructors' championship is achievable," Stella mentioned.

"Considering the current performance of our car and the challenges Red Bull is facing, achieving success is certainly within reach from a driver's perspective."

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

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri should not be faulted for his conduct during the side-by-side battle with Norris.

His move against Norris was impressive and bold, and it would have secured him the victory at Monza if he had committed to a single-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 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 pre-race guidelines on behavior after the initial set of corners.

Nonetheless, Norris should also face criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

There is no question that the team must decide on their strategy starting from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. However, Norris must refrain from providing Piastri with reasons (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his quest for the championship.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen have all shown a willingness to be tough on their teammates when necessary. Now, it's time for Norris to adopt the same approach.

More than just a qualifying expert

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

Despite his initial complaints about Norris undercutting him, Leclerc took advantage of the clear track after both McLarens pitted for their second stops. He skillfully managed his tyres, ultimately securing an emotional victory.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently called a 'quali merchant' or a one-dimensional racer because of his exceptional speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, often securing the pole position but then fading during the actual race.

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

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who will undoubtedly challenge Hamilton significantly in the upcoming year.

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

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

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

Brawn GP's transition from leading race victors to a status comparable with Red Bull's current standing was primarily due to financial constraints and insufficient development.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary resources and staff to reverse their situation.

Red Bull is facing concerns as McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races at tracks like Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull is likely to encounter further challenges.

New Audi CEO experiences challenges firsthand

Over the weekend at the Italian Grand Prix, new Audi head Mattia Binotto was spotted in the Sauber garage.

This marks the initial occasion we have 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 as both the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will work alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the role of team principal once he transitions from Red Bull.

The task ahead for the Italian is enormous, as Sauber currently sits at the bottom of the constructors’ championship standings.

Sauber has not managed to secure any top 10 placements in 2024, and their performance at Monza did not improve their record.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu secured the last positions on the starting grid, making their team the slowest by a significant margin during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto said, “We don’t have the luxury to lose. Our goal is to transform this team into a championship-winning squad. To achieve this, we need to start climbing the ranks and making progress. It’s essential to build our strength for future success."

"Absolutely, I believe there's a need for improvement. It's crucial for us personally, for the team as a whole, for the brand's reputation, and for our partners. We simply cannot tolerate our current situation."

Explore Further

Breaking News

Breaking News

Site Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

Reproducing any part or the entirety of text, images, or illustrations in any manner is prohibited.