McLaren’s Dilemma: Backing Norris for the Championship Amid Strategic Missteps – Analysis of the Italian GP

It's crucial for McLaren to show their support for Lando Norris – though he must also step up his game

Examining the key issues after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren's hesitation to fully support Lando Norris.

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McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more during the Italian Grand Prix, squandering yet another opportunity for an F1 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 careful strategy ended up costing them as they chose a two-stop plan, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc went for a one-stop strategy and ended up winning the race on his home turf.

This marks the fourth chance McLaren has squandered, following similar missed opportunities in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where improved strategic choices could have secured a win.

Nevertheless, the more urgent concern for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship – and determining if it's the right moment to fully support him.

Norris is trailing Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' championship with eight races left. Considering the current form of both teams, the British driver stands a strong chance of clinching the title this year.

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

Following the events at Monza, it seems that team leader Andrea Stella is inclined to proceed in that direction.

During a media briefing at Monza, which Crash.net attended, he said, "We must now recognize that winning the constructor championship is within our reach," Stella stated.

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

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

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

His move on Norris was thrilling and assertive, and it would have secured him the victory at Monza if he had followed a one-stop strategy.

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

However, considering the chance that Norris might genuinely 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 regarding behavior after the initial series of corners.

Nevertheless, Norris himself cannot be exempt from criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, which essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Undoubtedly, the team must decide on a course of action starting from Azerbaijan. However, Norris should avoid providing Piastri with reasons, as he did in Hungary, to disrupt his quest for the championship.

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

More than just a master of qualifying

Leclerc keeps delivering impressive performances on race days in 2024, with Monza being no exception.

Despite his early grievances about being hindered by Norris, Leclerc showcased excellent tyre management when he got some clear air after both McLarens made their second pit stops. This allowed him to secure an emotional victory.

In earlier times, Leclerc frequently received the nickname of 'quali merchant' or was considered a one-dimensional driver because of his exceptional speed during qualifying sessions, where he often secured pole position, but then would typically lose ground during the race itself.

Thanks to the improved balance and neutral handling of this year's Ferrari, Leclerc has demonstrated exceptional skill in tire management on race days, putting him on par with the top drivers.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who is poised to present a significant challenge to Hamilton in the upcoming year.

Red Bull's struggles persisted at the Italian Grand Prix as Verstappen managed only a sixth-place finish, trailing Leclerc by more than 35 seconds at the conclusion.

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

A decline in performance of this magnitude has never been seen before.

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

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

The concern for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with the latest upgrade from the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming tracks such as Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are anticipated to be unfavorable for the RB20, Red Bull is likely to face more challenges ahead.

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

This is the initial instance 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. He will work alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the role of team principal after transitioning from Red Bull.

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

Sauber has not managed to secure a top 10 position in any race during the 2024 season, and their performance at Monza did not improve their record.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu secured the last positions on the starting grid and were clearly the least competitive team during the race.

In a conversation with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "It's not something we can allow. Our goal is to transform this team into a future champion. The path to achieving that is through continuous improvement and advancement. We must build our strength for what's ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we need to make improvements. It's crucial for us personally, for the team, for the brand, and for our partners. We can't simply settle for where we are right now."

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