McLaren’s Dilemma: Time to Back Lando Norris Amid Italian GP Drama and Red Bull’s Downfall

McLaren Should Support Lando Norris, But He Must Also Step Up

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

Support Norris Now

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more during the Italian Grand Prix when they squandered yet another chance at a Formula 1 victory.

Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive performance at Monza, executing a bold pass on his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and subsequently building a lead of more than five seconds.

McLaren's careful tactics ended up costing them when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari went with a single-stop strategy for Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth instance where McLaren could have secured a victory, following missed chances in Canada, Britain, and perhaps Belgium, had their strategic choices been more effective.

Nevertheless, the more urgent concern for McLaren is Norris’ chase for the drivers’ championship – and if they should begin supporting him at this point.

With eight races remaining in the season, Norris is only 62 points behind Max Verstappen in the drivers’ standings. Considering the current performance trends of their respective teams, the British driver stands a strong chance of clinching the championship this year.

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

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

While speaking to the press at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that achieving the constructor championship is within reach," Stella remarked.

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

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

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri should not be faulted for his wheel-to-wheel engagement with Norris.

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

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

Nonetheless, 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 guidance on behavior after the initial series of corners.

Nevertheless, Norris deserves some criticism as well for his poor defense against Piastri, essentially allowing his teammate an easy pass.

It’s clear the team must make a decision starting from the Azerbaijan race, but Norris should avoid giving Piastri any reason, as he did in Hungary, to disrupt his championship quest.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen all showed no mercy towards their teammates when necessary – now Norris must follow suit.

More Than Just a Qualifying Expert

Leclerc has consistently delivered outstanding performances on race days throughout 2024, and Monza was no exception.

Despite initially expressing concerns about being overtaken by Norris, Leclerc showcased excellent tyre management once he had a clear track after both McLarens pitted for their second stops. This skillful handling allowed him to secure an emotional win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently characterized as a ‘quali merchant’ or a specialist in qualifying sessions because of his remarkable speed during Saturdays, where he often secured pole position but then struggled to maintain that performance during the race.

This year's Ferrari car has improved balance and a more neutral handling of its tyres, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tyre management during Sunday races.

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

Historic Decline for Red Bull

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

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

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

Brawn GP transitioned from being leading race winners 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 staff to improve their situation.

The concerning issue for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with their latest upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. Additionally, with tracks such as Azerbaijan and Singapore approaching, which are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull is likely to face further challenges.

New Audi leader witnesses challenges firsthand

The recently appointed head of Audi, Mattia Binotto, attended the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, observing from the Sauber team's garage.

This marks the initial occasion that the ex-Ferrari chief has been seen working with the Hinwil team since his appointment was revealed in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi’s Formula 1 team in the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer, while Jonathan Wheatley will step in as team principal once he makes the move from Red Bull.

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

Sauber has not managed to secure even one top 10 position in 2024, and their performance at Monza did not improve.

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

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto explained, "We don't have the luxury of failure. Our team must evolve into a victorious one in the future. The path to achieving this is by making steady advancements. We need to start preparing ourselves now for future success."

"We definitely need to make improvements. It's crucial for us personally, for the team, for the brand, and for our partners. We can't accept where we currently stand."

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