**”Italian Grand Prix Drama: McLaren’s Dilemma with Lando Norris, Red Bull’s Downfall, and Leclerc’s Triumph”**

It's crucial for McLaren to support Lando Norris – yet he must also step up his game

Examining the key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren's hesitance to fully endorse Lando Norris.

Support for Norris is due

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more during the Italian Grand Prix, squandering yet another chance at an F1 race win.

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

McLaren's conservative strategy proved costly when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari chose a one-stop strategy for Charles Leclerc, who ended up securing a victory in front of his home crowd.

It marks the fourth lost chance for McLaren to secure a victory, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and perhaps Belgium, where improved strategic choices might have made a significant difference.

On the other hand, McLaren faces a more urgent concern: Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and deciding if they should support him now.

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

McLaren's strong performance compared to Red Bull's struggles is likely to inspire the senior management in Woking to support Norris in his quest for this year's world championship.

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

During a press conference at Monza attended by Crash.net, he stated, "We must now recognize that winning the constructors' championship is within reach," Stella remarked.

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

“If we aim to secure both championships, we must ensure the team and Lando are in the best possible shape to do so.”

Reflecting on the events of the first lap, Piastri's behavior during his head-to-head battle with Norris was beyond reproach.

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

Although Piastri's move allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, it did not go against the team's pre-race directives.

However, considering the strong chance that Norris could clinch the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed this by providing straightforward pre-race guidelines on behavior after the first few corners.

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

Without a doubt, the team must make a decision starting with the race in Azerbaijan. However, Norris should avoid 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 fierce competitive edge when racing against their teammates. Now, it's time for Norris to adopt a similar approach.

Not Just a 'Qualifying Master'

In 2024, Leclerc consistently delivers strong performances on race day, with Monza being a prime example.

Despite his initial complaints about being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc skillfully managed his tyres when the two McLaren cars pitted for their second stops, ultimately holding on to secure a heartfelt win.

Historically, Leclerc frequently earned the tags of ‘quali merchant’ or a one-trick pony because of his exceptional speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position but then struggled to maintain that performance in the race.

This year's Ferrari is better balanced and more neutral in its tyre handling, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tyre preservation on Sundays.

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

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

Considering how they began the season by excelling in the initial races, it’s astonishing that they are now leaving a race weekend ranked as the fourth-best team.

A decline in performance of this magnitude has never been seen before.

Although Brawn GP transitioned from being dominant race victors to a status comparable to Red Bull's current position, this shift was primarily due to financial constraints and limited development.

Red Bull possesses both the necessary resources and skilled staff to make a significant change.

The concerning issue for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle following their latest upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are anticipated to be less favorable for the RB20, Red Bull might face further challenges.

New Audi CEO witnesses challenges firsthand

Newly appointed Audi CEO Mattia Binotto attended the Sauber team’s garage during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

This marks the initial occasion we have observed the ex-Ferrari chief participating with the Hinwil team since his announcement in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi's Formula 1 team in the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will work alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will become the team principal after transitioning from his position at Red Bull.

The Italian faces a monumental task as Sauber sits at the bottom of the constructors' championship standings.

Sauber hasn't managed to secure a top 10 position at all in 2024, and their performance at Monza was no different.

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

Binotto expressed to Motorsport.com: "We don't have the luxury for that. Our team needs to transform into a victorious one in the future. The sole path to achieve this is by making strides forward and advancing. It's essential for us to build our strength for what's ahead."

"Absolutely, we definitely need to make improvements. It's crucial for us personally, for the team, for the brand, and for our partners. We simply can't be content with where we are right now."

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