McLaren’s Dilemma: Time to Fully Back Lando Norris Amid Dramatic Italian GP Outcomes

McLaren should support Lando Norris, but he must also step up his game

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

Support for Norris is due

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more at the Italian Grand Prix, squandering yet another chance to win an F1 race.

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

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

This marks the fourth chance McLaren has let slip by, following races in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where improved strategic choices might have secured them a victory.

The main concern for McLaren at the moment is Norris’ quest for the drivers’ championship and deciding if they should fully support him now.

With eight races remaining, Norris trails Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' championship. Considering the current performance trends of their teams, the British driver has a strong opportunity to clinch this year's title.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, should inspire the leadership at the Woking 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 course of action.

During a media briefing at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that winning the constructor's championship is within our reach," Stella remarked.

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

“In order to reach both goals, we must ensure that the team and Lando are in a position to compete for both championships.”

Reflecting on the events of the first lap, Piastri's behavior during his close racing with Norris is 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 one-stop strategy.

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

However, considering that Norris has a real chance of becoming the world champion this year, the risk was unnecessary. The team could have managed it easily with a straightforward pre-race directive about behavior after the initial turns.

Nonetheless, Norris shouldn't be exempt from criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, which essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Without a doubt, the team must decide on a strategy starting from the Azerbaijan race. However, Norris should avoid giving Piastri reasons (as he did in Hungary) to disrupt his championship campaign.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen all showed no mercy toward their teammates when the situation called for it. Now, it's time for Norris to adopt the same approach.

Not Just a Qualifying Expert

Leclerc has been consistently delivering impressive performances on race days in 2024, and his showing at Monza was another example of his prowess.

Despite his initial complaints about being outmaneuvered by Norris, Leclerc excelled in managing his tyres when he had open track after the two McLarens pitted for their second stops, ultimately securing a heartfelt victory.

In earlier times, people frequently referred to Leclerc as a 'qualifying specialist' or someone with only one skill because he was exceptionally fast during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, often securing the top starting position, but then losing ground during the race itself.

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

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

Red Bull's struggles persist

At the Italian Grand Prix, Red Bull's challenges continued as Verstappen ended up in sixth place, trailing Leclerc by more than 35 seconds.

Considering their strong start to the season, where they excelled in the initial races, it’s perplexing to see them now leaving a race weekend as 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 standing, primarily due to financial constraints and limited development.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary resources and staff to improve the situation.

The concerning aspect for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull is likely to face further challenges.

New Audi leader witnesses challenges firsthand

New Audi head Mattia Binotto attended the Sauber garage during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

This marks the initial occasion that the ex-Ferrari chief has been seen participating 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 after transitioning from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a gigantic task as Sauber is currently at the bottom of the constructors’ championship standings.

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

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

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Binotto said, "We can't allow ourselves that luxury. This team needs to evolve into a winning one in the future. The path to achieve that is by making progress and moving forward. We must prepare ourselves for future challenges."

"Certainly, there is a need for us to make improvements. This is crucial for our personal growth, the team's success, the brand's reputation, and our partners' satisfaction. We cannot be content with our current standing."

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