McLaren’s Dilemma: Back Lando Norris or Risk Another F1 Title Slip?

McLaren Must Support Lando Norris, Though He Must Also Improve

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

Support for Norris is needed

During the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more as they let another Formula 1 race win slip through their fingers.

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 as they chose a two-stop plan, while Ferrari opted for a single-stop strategy with Charles Leclerc, who went on to secure victory in his home race.

This marks the fourth lost chance for McLaren, who could have secured victories in Canada, Britain, and perhaps Belgium, if they had made more effective strategic choices.

Nonetheless, a more immediate concern for McLaren is Norris’s quest for the drivers’ championship and whether the team should start supporting him fully at this stage.

Norris trails Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' championship with eight races left in the season. Considering the current performance trends of both teams, the British driver has a strong opportunity to win the title this year.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, is likely to encourage the senior leaders at the Woking-based 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 take that action.

During a media briefing at Monza, which Crash.net attended, he stated, "We must now recognize that not only is the constructors' championship within reach," Stella remarked.

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

"In order for us to aim for success in both championships, we must ensure that the team and Lando are in the best possible position to do so."

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri should not be faulted for his conduct during the close racing with Norris.

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

Although Piastri's maneuver allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, it did not violate the team's pre-race directives.

However, considering the chance that Norris might actually win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed this with straightforward pre-race guidelines on behavior past the initial series of corners.

Nonetheless, Norris also deserves some criticism for his lackluster defense against Piastri, as he essentially allowed his teammate an easy pass.

Undoubtedly, the team must make a choice starting from the Azerbaijan race, but Norris must refrain from giving Piastri reasons (as seen in Hungary) to disrupt his championship quest.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen have all shown a cutthroat attitude towards their teammates when necessary – now it's Norris's turn to adopt the same approach.

Exceeding expectations beyond qualifying, Leclerc has consistently delivered exceptional performances on race days throughout 2024, with Monza being a prime example.

Despite his initial complaints about being outpaced by Norris, Leclerc expertly managed his tyres after both McLarens pitted for their second stops. He then held on to secure a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently criticized as being a 'qualifying specialist' or having a single skill because of his exceptional speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, often securing pole position but then losing ground during the race.

This year's Ferrari car, which boasts improved balance and a more neutral approach to tyre management, has allowed Leclerc to demonstrate his exceptional tyre preservation skills during Sunday races, proving himself to be among the elite.

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

Red Bull's unexpected decline 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 performance at the beginning of the season, where they dominated the initial races, it's perplexing to see them now leave a race weekend as the fourth-best team.

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

Brawn GP transitioned from being dominant race victors to a situation comparable to Red Bull's current standing, largely due to financial constraints and limited development.

Red Bull possesses the necessary resources and team members to make a comeback.

The concerning issue for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with an upgrade during the recent Dutch Grand Prix. Additionally, upcoming tracks like those in Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are not anticipated to favor the RB20, suggest that more challenges are on the horizon.

New Audi CEO Mattia Binotto experienced challenges firsthand while attending the Sauber garage during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

This marks the initial occasion that we have witnessed the ex-Ferrari leader engaged with the Hinwil team since his announcement in July.

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

The Italian faces an enormous challenge as Sauber is currently 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 was no exception.

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

In a conversation with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "We don't have the luxury to afford it. Our objective is to transform this team into a winning team in the future. The only path to achieve that is by making upward strides and advancing. It's essential for us to prepare and strengthen ourselves for what's ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we must make improvements. This is crucial for us individually, for the team as a whole, for our brand, and for our partners. We cannot be satisfied with our current standing."

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