McLaren’s Crossroads: Backing Lando Norris Amid Strategic Missteps and F1 Drama

McLaren should show more support for Lando Norris, but he also needs to step up his game

An analysis of the 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 yet again at the Italian Grand Prix, as they let 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 extending his lead to more than five seconds.

McLaren's careful strategy ended up costing them as they chose to go with a two-stop plan, while Ferrari decided on a one-stop approach with Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth instance where McLaren could have secured a victory, as seen previously in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, had they made more effective strategic choices.

The more urgent matter for McLaren concerns Norris’ quest for the drivers’ championship and deciding if they should support him at this point.

Norris trails Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers’ standings with eight races left. Considering the current momentum of both teams, the British racer stands a solid chance of clinching the title this year.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, should encourage the leadership at Woking 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 direction.

During a media briefing at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that not only is the constructors' championship achievable," Stella remarked.

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

"In order to aim for both championships, we must ensure that both the team and Lando are well-prepared."

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

His move against Norris was impressive and assertive, and it would 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 violate the team's pre-race guidelines.

However, considering Norris has a genuine chance of winning the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed this situation with straightforward pre-race guidelines about behavior after the initial corners.

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

The team definitely has to make a choice starting from Azerbaijan, but Norris must avoid giving Piastri reasons, as he did in Hungary, to disrupt his championship efforts.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen all showed no mercy towards their teammates when necessary – now it's Norris's turn to follow suit.

Not Just a Qualifying Specialist

Leclerc has consistently delivered outstanding performances on race days in 2024, and Monza was another example of his excellence.

Despite his initial grievances about being overtaken by Norris, Leclerc capitalized on the clear track when both McLaren cars pitted for their second stops. He expertly managed his tires and held on to secure a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently described as a 'qualifying expert' or someone with a singular talent, as he often secured pole position with his incredible speed during Saturday sessions but then struggled to maintain that performance during the race.

The improved balance and neutral handling of this year's Ferrari have allowed Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tyre management during Sunday races.

Leclerc has shown that he is a versatile driver who is likely to challenge Hamilton significantly in the coming year.

Unforeseen Decline for Red Bull

Red Bull's struggles persisted at the Italian Grand Prix, with Verstappen ending the race in sixth place, trailing Leclerc by more than 35 seconds.

Considering their strong start to the season, where they dominated the first few races, it's astonishing that they are now leaving a race weekend as the fourth-best team.

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

Brawn GP transitioned from being dominant race winners to a position similar to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to financial constraints and a lack of development.

Red Bull possesses the necessary resources and team members to improve the situation.

The concerning aspect for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming tracks such as Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull could face further challenges.

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

This marks the initial 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 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 after transitioning from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a huge challenge as Sauber is currently at the bottom of the constructors' championship standings.

Sauber has not managed to secure a top 10 position at any race in 2024, and their performance at Monza continued this unfortunate trend.

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

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto emphasized that the team cannot allow any setbacks. He stated, "Our goal is to transform this team into a victorious one in the future. The only path to achieving that is by making consistent progress and advancing. We must start strengthening our abilities now to prepare for what lies ahead."

"Absolutely, we definitely need to make improvements. It's crucial for our own sake, for the team's success, for the brand's reputation, and for satisfying our partners. We simply can't be content with where we currently stand."

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