**McLaren’s Crossroads: Time to Back Lando Norris Amid Italian GP Drama and Red Bull Woes**

McLaren should start supporting Lando Norris more – yet he must also improve

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 once more at the Italian Grand Prix after squandering yet another chance for an F1 win.

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

McLaren's conservative strategy proved costly as they opted for two pit stops, while Ferrari chose a single-stop plan for Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth time McLaren has missed a chance to secure a win, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where improved strategic choices could have led to victory.

A more urgent concern for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and whether the team should start supporting him now.

Norris is only 62 points away from Max Verstappen in the drivers' standings with eight races remaining. Considering the current form of both teams, the British racer has a strong opportunity to win the championship this year.

McLaren's excellent performance compared to Red Bull's struggles should encourage the top 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 leader Andrea Stella is inclined to proceed in that direction.

At Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he informed the press: "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 secure both championships, we must ensure that the team and Lando are in the best possible shape to compete effectively.”

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

His maneuver against Norris was impressive and bold, and it would have secured him 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 the chance that Norris might actually win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. This situation could have been easily managed by the team through a straightforward pre-race directive regarding behavior after the first few corners.

Nonetheless, Norris himself deserves some 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 a course of action starting with the Azerbaijan race. However, Norris must refrain from providing Piastri with reasons, as he did in Hungary, to disrupt his championship ambitions.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen have all shown a fierce competitive edge against their teammates when necessary – now it's time for Lando Norris to adopt the same approach.

Not Just a 'Qualifying Specialist'

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

Despite his initial complaints about Norris undermining him, Leclerc showcased excellent tyre management once he found himself with open track after the two McLaren cars pitted for their second stops, ultimately securing a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently called a 'qualifying specialist' or someone with only one strong skill because he was incredibly fast during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, often securing pole position, but then losing his advantage during the race.

This year’s Ferrari has improved balance and handling, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate his exceptional skill in tyre management during races, placing him among the top performers on Sundays.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver, likely to challenge Hamilton significantly in the coming year.

Red Bull's struggles persisted at the Italian Grand Prix, where Verstappen ended up 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 astonishing to see them now finishing a race weekend as the fourth-best team.

A decline in performance like this has never happened before.

Brawn GP, having transitioned from being dominant race victors, ended up in a similar situation to Red Bull's current position, primarily due to insufficient funds and limited development.

Red Bull possesses both the necessary resources and skilled staff to improve their situation.

Red Bull has cause for concern as McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, tracks that aren't anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull may face further difficulties ahead.

New Audi head Mattia Binotto observed difficulties firsthand

Newly appointed Audi leader Mattia Binotto experienced the challenges up close from the Sauber garage during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

This marks the initial occasion we have witnessed the ex-Ferrari chief engaging with the Hinwil team following his introduction 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 become the team principal after transitioning from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a colossal challenge 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 secured the last positions on the starting grid, clearly being the slowest competitors during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto expressed: "It's not within our budget. Our goal is to transform this team into a winning one in the future. To achieve that, we need to start advancing and improving. We must prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we must make improvements. This is crucial for us, for the team, for the brand, and for our partners. We can't be satisfied with where we are now."

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