McLaren’s Dilemma: Time to Fully Back Lando Norris Amidst Italian GP Drama and Strategic Missteps

It's high time McLaren shows support for Lando Norris – though he also needs to step up his game

Analyzing the key discussions after a thrilling Italian Grand Prix, with the spotlight on McLaren's hesitation to fully support Lando Norris

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McLaren found themselves in the spotlight again during the Italian Grand Prix, where they squandered yet another chance at an F1 victory.

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 careful tactics proved detrimental as they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari chose a one-stop strategy with Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth instance after races in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where McLaren could have secured a victory if they had made more effective strategic choices.

The more urgent matter for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship – and whether the team should start supporting him now.

Norris is only 62 points behind Max Verstappen in the drivers' standings with eight races remaining. Considering the current form of the two teams, the British driver has a strong opportunity to clinch the championship this year.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, should encourage the top executives 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 course of action.

At Monza, speaking to the media with Crash.net in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that winning the constructors' championship is within our reach," Stella mentioned.

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

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

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

His move on Norris was impressive and bold, 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 pass Norris, it did not go against the team's pre-race directives.

Nevertheless, considering the chance that Norris might actually clinch the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed this by providing clear pre-race guidelines on behavior after the initial series of corners.

Nonetheless, Norris deserves some criticism for his lackluster defense against Piastri, which essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Without a doubt, the team must make a decision starting with Azerbaijan, but Norris must cease providing Piastri with opportunities (as seen in Hungary) to disrupt his championship quest.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen have all shown a fierce competitive streak when facing their teammates. Now, it's crucial for Norris to adopt the same approach.

Leclerc is proving to be more than just a qualifying expert, consistently delivering strong performances on race days in 2024, as demonstrated once again at Monza.

Despite his initial complaints about being overtaken by Norris, Leclerc, after finding himself with an open track following the second pit stops of both McLaren cars, expertly managed his tires and secured a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc frequently received the nickname of a ‘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 throughout the race.

This year's Ferrari has improved balance and a more neutral approach to handling its tyres, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tyre management on race days.

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

Unexpected Decline for Red Bull

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

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

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

Brawn GP's transition from being leading race winners to a status similar to Red Bull's current position was primarily due to insufficient funds and development.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary resources and team members to make improvements.

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

New Audi leader witnesses challenges in real-time

Audi's new CEO, Mattia Binotto, attended the Sauber garage during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

This marks the initial occasion that we've witnessed 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 the Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer, working alongside Jonathan Wheatley. Wheatley will take on the role of team principal once he transitions from Red Bull.

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

Sauber has yet to secure a top 10 finish in 2024, and their performance at Monza did not improve their record.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu occupied the last positions on the starting grid and were clearly the slowest team during the race.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "We can't afford it. Our team must evolve into a winning team in the future. The path to achieving that is by consistently improving and advancing. We need to prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we must make improvements. It's crucial for our personal growth, for the team's success, for the brand's reputation, and for our partners. We can't be satisfied with where we currently stand."

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