McLaren’s Crossroads: Time to Rally Behind Norris Amid Italian GP Drama and Red Bull’s Unprecedented Slide

McLaren Must Support Lando Norris – Who Also Has to Step Up

Examining the key discussions emerging from an eventful Italian Grand Prix, particularly McLaren's hesitation to fully support Lando Norris.

Support for Norris is needed now

At the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more as they missed out on yet another chance to clinch an F1 grand prix win.

Oscar Piastri delivered an exceptional performance at Monza, executing a bold move to overtake his McLaren team member, Lando Norris, and subsequently establishing a lead of more than five seconds.

McLaren's conservative strategy backfired when they opted for a two-stop race plan, in contrast to Ferrari's decision to go with a single stop for Charles Leclerc, who ultimately clinched victory in his home country.

This marks the fourth instance where McLaren could have clinched victories in Canada, Britain, and possibly Belgium if they had employed more effective strategic choices.

Yet, McLaren's most urgent challenge lies in supporting Norris in his quest for the drivers' championship – questioning if now is the moment to fully support him.

Currently, Norris is trailing Max Verstappen by 62 points in the drivers' standings, with eight races remaining. Considering the current performance trends of their teams, the British racer stands a solid opportunity to clinch this year's title.

McLaren's remarkable performance, as opposed to Red Bull's difficulties, should inspire the senior leadership of the Woking-based team to support Norris in his pursuit of this year's world championship.

Following the Monza race, it seems that team leader 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 winning the constructor championship is within our reach."

"From the perspective of a driver, given the current capabilities of our vehicle and considering the challenges Red Bull is facing, it certainly seems achievable."

"Therefore, to pursue both championships successfully as a team, it's essential to ensure that both the team and Lando are in the optimal condition."

Reflecting on the initial lap, Piastri's actions during his close racing battle with Norris should not be met with any negative judgment.

His move on Norris was breathtaking, assertive, and could have secured him the victory at Monza if he had adhered to a single-stop strategy.

Piastri's maneuvers, though they allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, did not violate the team's directives set before the race.

Nevertheless, with the chance of Norris potentially securing the world championship title this year, it was an unnecessary gamble, one that the team could have easily managed with a straightforward directive about behavior beyond the initial series of turns before the race.

Nevertheless, Norris cannot avoid scrutiny for his lackluster defense against Piastri, essentially allowing his teammate to overtake him.

Certainly, from the Azerbaijan race forward, the team must come to a conclusion, yet Norris must halt providing Piastri with reasons (as seen in Hungary) to hinder his chase for the championship.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen consistently showed no mercy to their teammates when the situation called for it – now, it's Norris's turn to adopt a similar approach.

Leclerc consistently delivers strong performances on race days in 2024, with his showing at Monza being no exception.

Despite initially expressing frustration over being edged out by Norris, Leclerc adeptly navigated the situation. After gaining some breathing room when both McLarens pitted for their second stops, he skillfully managed his tyres. This allowed him to secure an emotionally charged win.

Previously, Leclerc frequently earned the reputation of being a 'quali merchant' or a specialist in one area because of his exceptional speed during Saturday's qualifying sessions, regularly securing the pole position, only to lose his advantage later on.

This season, Ferrari's improved equilibrium and more consistent tyre management have allowed Leclerc to demonstrate his prowess in tyre conservation during races, positioning him among the top performers.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver, undoubtedly presenting Hamilton with significant challenges 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 their strong start at the beginning of the season, sweeping the first few races, it's perplexing to see them finishing a race weekend now as merely the fourth-ranked team.

This decline in performance is unparalleled.

Brawn GP's transition from leading race victors to a state akin to Red Bull's current standing was primarily attributed to financial constraints and insufficient development.

Red Bull possesses both the necessary resources and staff to make a turnaround.

A cause for concern for Red Bull is the enhancement McLaren has made to their vehicle through the latest upgrade at the Dutch GP. Given the upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are anticipated to not favor the RB20, Red Bull could be facing further challenges.

Audi's new leader, Mattia Binotto, experienced challenges firsthand during his visit to the Sauber team's garage at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

This marks the initial appearance of the ex-Ferrari chief with the Hinwil team since his introduction in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi's Formula 1 team in the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer, working in tandem with Jonathan Wheatley. Wheatley will take on the position of team principal upon his transition from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a colossal challenge as Sauber currently sits at the last position in the constructors' standings.

Sauber has not managed to secure a position within the top 10 in any race in 2024, and their performance at Monza showed no improvement.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu ended up at the very end of the lineup, clearly being the slowest team during the race.

Binotto conveyed to Motorsport.com, "It's beyond our means. I believe this team must evolve into a victorious team in the future. The sole path forward is to advance and progress. We have to build our strength for what's ahead."

"Certainly, there's a need for us to enhance our performance. It's crucial for us individually, for the team as a whole, for the brand's image, and for our partners. Accepting our current status is not an option."

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