**”McLaren’s Crucial Crossroads: Backing Norris Amidst Italian GP Drama and Red Bull’s Downfall”**

McLaren Must Support Lando Norris, but He Also Needs to Step Up

An analysis of the key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren’s hesitation to fully support Lando Norris.

Support for Norris is crucial

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more during the Italian Grand Prix, squandering another opportunity to secure an F1 race win.

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 proved costly when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari chose a one-stop strategy with Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory at their home race.

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

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

Norris is trailing Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers’ championship with eight races remaining. Considering the current form of the two teams, the British driver has a strong opportunity to win the title this year.

McLaren's strong performance, especially when compared to Red Bull's struggles, should inspire the senior leaders at the Woking team to support Norris in his bid for the world championship this year.

Following the Monza race, it seems that team leader Andrea Stella is inclined to take that action.

Speaking to the press at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that not only is the constructors' championship within reach," Stella continued.

"Given the current performance of our car and the challenges Red Bull is facing, it is certainly achievable from a driver's perspective."

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

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri's performance in his close racing with Norris was beyond reproach.

His move on Norris was impressive and assertive; 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 violate the team's pre-race guidelines.

Nevertheless, considering the chance that Norris could genuinely become the world champion this year, it was an unnecessary risk. This could have been managed by the team with straightforward pre-race guidance on behavior after the initial series of corners.

Nevertheless, Norris also deserves criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, essentially allowing his teammate to overtake him.

Certainly, the team must decide on a strategy starting from the Azerbaijan race, but Norris should avoid providing Piastri with opportunities (as seen in Hungary) to disrupt his championship quest.

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

Not just a ‘qualifying expert’

Leclerc consistently delivers impressive performances on race days in 2024, and Monza was no exception.

Despite his initial complaints about being overtaken by Norris, Leclerc skillfully preserved his tyres after the two McLarens pitted for their second stops. This strategic management allowed him to secure an emotional win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently criticized as being solely a 'qualifying expert' or a one-dimensional driver because of his exceptional speed during qualifying sessions, where he would often secure pole position, only to struggle during the actual race.

This year's Ferrari has improved balance and a more neutral tire handling, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tire preservation during Sunday races.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who will undoubtedly challenge Hamilton significantly next year.

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

Considering how they began the season by dominating the first few races, it's astonishing that they now leave a race weekend ranked as the fourth-best team.

This level of decline in performance has never been seen before.

Brawn GP's transition from leading race victors to a status comparable to Red Bull's current situation was primarily due to insufficient funding and development efforts.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary resources and staff to make improvements.

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 that are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull may face further challenges ahead.

New Audi CEO Mattia Binotto observed the challenges firsthand at the Italian Grand Prix, stationed in the Sauber garage.

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, working alongside Jonathan Wheatley. Wheatley will take on the role of team principal once he makes the switch from Red Bull.

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

Sauber hasn't managed to secure a place in the top 10 at any race in 2024, and the Monza event proved equally disappointing for the team.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu secured the last positions on the starting grid, making their team the slowest during the race.

Binotto shared with Motorsport.com that it's not something they can allow. He emphasized that the team must evolve into a victorious one eventually, and the path to achieving that involves making upward strides and advancing. He added that they need to strengthen their capabilities in preparation for future success.

"Indeed, I believe we must make improvements. It's crucial for our own sake, for the team, for the brand, and for our partners. We cannot be satisfied with our current standing."

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