McLaren’s Crucial Decisions: Backing Norris, Strategic Missteps, and the Dramatic Italian GP

McLaren needs to support Lando Norris, but he also needs to step up

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

Support for Norris is crucial

McLaren garnered significant attention at the Italian Grand Prix as they squandered yet another opportunity for an F1 race win.

Oscar Piastri executed an impressive performance at Monza, making a bold move to pass his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and then extending his lead to more than five seconds.

McLaren's conservative strategy proved costly when they opted for two pit stops, while Ferrari chose a single stop with Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory in 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.

Nonetheless, the primary concern for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and deciding if they should support him at this point.

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

McLaren's strong performance, especially when compared to Red Bull's struggles, is likely to inspire the top executives at Woking to support Norris in his bid for this year's world championship.

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

During a media interaction at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that not only is the constructor's championship achievable," Stella added.

"Considering the current performance of our car and the difficulties Red Bull is experiencing, 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 optimal condition to compete."

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

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

Although Piastri's maneuver allowed Leclerc to get ahead of Norris, it was still in compliance with the team's pre-race directives.

Nevertheless, considering the chance that Norris could realistically clinch the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. This situation could have been managed by the team through straightforward pre-race guidelines on behavior after the initial series of turns.

Nevertheless, Norris also deserves criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate an easy opportunity to overtake.

Without a doubt, the team must decide their course of action starting from the Azerbaijan race. However, Norris must cease providing Piastri with reasons, as seen in Hungary, to meddle in his championship chase.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen all displayed a fierce competitiveness towards their teammates when necessary. Now, it's time for Norris to adopt a similar approach.

More than just a ‘qualifying expert’

Leclerc has consistently delivered impressive performances on race days in 2024, with Monza being another example.

Although he initially expressed frustration about being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc expertly managed his tires once he had a clear track after both McLarens pitted for their second stops. This allowed him to secure a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc frequently earned the nickname ‘quali merchant’ or was seen as a one-trick pony 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 actual race.

This year's Ferrari has improved balance and neutral handling of its tires, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate that he is among the top drivers in tire management during Sunday races.

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

Historic Decline for Red Bull

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

Considering their strong start to the season, where they dominated the initial races, it's perplexing to see them now finishing a race weekend as only the fourth-best team.

A decline in performance like this has never been seen before.

Brawn GP transitioned from being dominant race victors to a state similar to Red Bull's current position, primarily due to financial constraints and limited development.

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

In a concerning development for Red Bull, McLaren has enhanced their vehicle following their latest upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming tracks such as Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull may face further challenges ahead.

Audi's new leader witnesses challenges firsthand

Mattia Binotto, the newly appointed head of Audi, was spotted in the Sauber garage during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

This marks the initial occasion we've observed the ex-Ferrari chief engaged with the Hinwil team since his appointment was revealed in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi's Formula 1 team as both the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will be working with Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the role of team principal once he transitions from his current position at Red Bull.

The Italian faces a monumental task as Sauber sits at the bottom of the constructors' championship standings.

Sauber has not secured a top 10 finish at all in 2024, and their performance at Monza didn't improve that record.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu occupied the last positions on the grid, making their team the slowest by a significant margin during the race.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "It's not within our budget. I believe this team must transform into a winning team in the future. The path to achieving that is by making advancements and continually improving. We need to build our strength for what's ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we must make improvements. This is crucial for us individually, for the team as a whole, for the brand, and for our collaborators. We can't continue to tolerate our current standing."

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