McLaren’s Crossroads: Backing Norris Amidst Strategic Missteps and Rising Rivals – Italian GP Analysis

McLaren Needs to Support Lando Norris – Yet He Must Also Step Up

Examining the key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, with attention on McLaren's hesitation to fully support Lando Norris.

Support Norris Now

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

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

McLaren's conservative tactics ended up costing them, as they went for a two-stop plan while Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc, opted for a single-stop strategy and eventually claimed victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth instance, following races in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where McLaren had a strong chance of victory but faltered due to suboptimal strategy choices.

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

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

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, ought to inspire the top brass at the Woking team to support Norris in the quest for this year's world championship.

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

Speaking to the press at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, Stella remarked, "We must now recognize that the constructors' championship is within reach."

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

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

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

Although Piastri's actions allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, they were still in line with the team's pre-race directives.

Nonetheless, considering the chance that Norris could realistically become the world champion this year, this was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed it by giving straightforward pre-race guidelines on behavior after the initial corners.

Nevertheless, Norris should also be held accountable for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Clearly, the team must decide on a strategy starting with the Azerbaijan race, but Norris must avoid providing Piastri with reasons (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his championship ambitions.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen were all known for being relentless with their teammates when necessary – now it's Norris's turn to adopt the same approach.

More Than Just a Qualifying Expert

Leclerc has consistently delivered impressive race performances in 2024, and his display at Monza was no exception.

Despite his initial complaints about being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc expertly maintained his tyres once he had a clear track after the two McLarens pitted for their second stops, ultimately securing an emotional win.

Historically, Leclerc frequently faced criticism, being dubbed a 'qualifying specialist' or a one-dimensional driver because of his exceptional speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position but then struggled to maintain that performance during the races.

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

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

Historic decline for Red Bull

Red Bull's struggles persisted at the Italian Grand Prix, where Verstappen crossed the finish line in sixth place, trailing Leclerc by more than 35 seconds.

It's astonishing to see how they've gone from being dominant in the first few races of the season to now finishing a race weekend as the fourth-best team.

There has never been such a significant decline in performance before.

Brawn GP, which once dominated races, found itself in a position akin to Red Bull's current status due to financial constraints and halted development.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary assets and team members to improve their situation.

A cause for concern for Red Bull is McLaren's recent enhancement of their vehicle with upgrades at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races at tracks like Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are anticipated to be unfavorable for the RB20, Red Bull might face additional challenges.

New Audi leader experiences challenges firsthand

Audi's new head, Mattia Binotto, attended the Italian Grand Prix this weekend from the Sauber garage.

This marks the initial occasion we've observed the ex-Ferrari leader 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 become the team principal after moving 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 in any race throughout 2024, and the Monza event did not improve their performance.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu secured positions at the very end of the grid, with their team being the least competitive during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "It's not something we can afford. Our goal is to transform this team into a champion in the future. The path to achieving that is by making consistent progress and climbing the ranks. We need to prepare and strengthen ourselves for what lies ahead."

"We definitely need to make improvements. This is crucial not just for our own sake, but also for the team's success. It's significant for our brand and for our partners. We can't be content with where we are right now."

Explore Further

Breaking News

Recent Updates

Site Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

It is prohibited to fully or partially copy any text, photos, or illustrations in any manner.