McLaren’s Crucial Decision: Time to Back Lando Norris Amidst Dramatic Italian GP and Red Bull’s Decline

McLaren should start supporting Lando Norris more, though he also needs to improve individually

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

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The spotlight was on McLaren once more at the Italian Grand Prix, where they squandered yet another chance at an F1 victory.

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 strategy backfired when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari's single-stop tactic with Charles Leclerc led to a victory in their home race.

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

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

With only eight races remaining, Norris trails Max Verstappen by just 62 points in the drivers' championship. Considering the current form of their respective teams, the British driver stands a strong chance of clinching this year's title.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, is likely to encourage the Woking team's top executives to support Norris in the pursuit of this year's world championship.

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

While speaking to the press at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that not only is the constructors' championship achievable," Stella said.

"Considering our current car performance and the issues Red Bull is facing, it seems entirely achievable from a driver's perspective."

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

Reflecting on the events of Lap 1, Piastri's actions in his side-by-side battle with Norris were beyond reproach.

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

Although Piastri's maneuver allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, it was in line with the team's pre-race guidelines.

Considering the chance that Norris might actually win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed it with a straightforward pre-race directive regarding behavior after the initial set of turns.

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

The team certainly must make a decision starting with the Azerbaijan race, but Norris should avoid providing Piastri with reasons (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his championship chase.

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

More than just a qualifying expert

Leclerc has consistently delivered impressive performances on race days in 2024, with Monza being no exception.

Despite his initial complaints about being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc skillfully handled his tyres after the two McLaren drivers pitted for their second stops, ultimately securing an emotional win.

Historically, Leclerc was frequently referred to as a 'qualifying specialist' or someone with a limited skill set because of his incredible speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position but then struggled to maintain that performance during the race.

Thanks to the improved balance and neutral handling of this year's Ferrari, Leclerc has demonstrated on Sundays that he is among the top drivers in terms of tyre management.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who is poised to challenge Hamilton significantly in the coming year.

Red Bull experienced another setback at the Italian Grand Prix, where Verstappen secured only a sixth-place finish, trailing Leclerc by more than 35 seconds.

Considering how they began the season by dominating the first few races, it's astonishing to see them now finishing a race weekend as just the fourth-best team.

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

Brawn GP transitioned from being leading race victors to a situation akin to Red Bull's current standing due to financial constraints and limited development.

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

The concern for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With tracks like those in Azerbaijan and Singapore approaching, which aren't anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull might face further challenges.

Audi's new CEO, Mattia Binotto, witnessed the challenges firsthand while attending the Italian Grand Prix in the Sauber garage this weekend.

This marks the initial occasion we've witnessed the ex-Ferrari chief engaged with the Hinwil team following his announcement in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi’s Formula 1 team in the dual roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will be working alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who is expected to become the team principal after his move from Red Bull.

The Italian faces an enormous challenge with Sauber currently at the bottom of the constructors' championship standings.

Sauber has not managed to secure a top 10 position in any race in 2024, and the Monza event did not improve their situation.

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

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto expressed that the team cannot sustain their current situation. He emphasized that the goal is to transform the team into a winning one in the future. To achieve this, they must begin improving and advancing. He noted that it is essential to build their strength and readiness for upcoming challenges.

"Absolutely, I believe we must make improvements. It's crucial for us personally, for the team as a whole, for the brand, and for our partners. We can't be satisfied with where we currently stand."

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