**McLaren’s Gamble: Backing Norris Amidst Italian GP Drama and F1 Title Ambitions**

McLaren Should Support Lando Norris, Though He Must Step Up

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

Support for Norris is crucial

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

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

McLaren's careful strategy backfired when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari chose a one-stop approach with Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth missed chance for McLaren to secure a victory, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where improved strategic choices could have led to a win.

The more urgent matter for McLaren revolves around Norris’ chase for the drivers’ championship and whether they should start supporting him now.

Norris trails Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' championship with eight races remaining. Considering the current form of the two teams, the British driver has a strong opportunity to claim this year's title.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, should inspire the leadership at Woking to support Norris in the quest for this year's world championship.

Following the Monza event, it seems that team leader Andrea Stella is inclined to take this course of action.

During a press briefing at Monza, attended by Crash.net, he stated, "At this point, we must recognize that the constructor championship is within our reach," Stella remarked.

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

"In order to strive for success in both championships, it is essential to create the right conditions for both the team and Lando."

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

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

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

Nevertheless, considering the chance that Norris could realistically clinch the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed this with straightforward guidelines provided before the race, specifically about behavior after the initial series of turns.

Nevertheless, Norris also deserves criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, which essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

There's no question that the team must decide on a course of action starting with the Azerbaijan race. However, Norris must avoid providing Piastri with reasons (as seen in Hungary) to disrupt his championship quest.

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

More than just a 'qualifying expert'

Leclerc maintained his strong race day performances in 2024, with Monza being no exception.

Despite his initial complaints about being overtaken by Norris, Leclerc expertly managed his tyres once he had a clear track after both McLarens pitted for their second stops. He then held on to secure a heartfelt victory.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently criticized for being exceptional only in qualifying sessions, where his incredible speed on Saturdays often secured him pole positions, but he would then struggle to maintain that performance during the actual races.

Thanks to the improved balance and neutrality of this year’s Ferrari in terms of tyre management, Leclerc has demonstrated that he is among the top drivers in preserving tyres during Sunday races.

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

Unforeseen Red Bull decline

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

Considering their strong start to the season, where they controlled the first few races, it's perplexing to see them 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 victors to a situation comparable to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to insufficient funding and limited progress.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary assets and team members to improve their situation.

A major concern for Red Bull is McLaren's recent enhancement of their vehicle following the Dutch Grand Prix, especially with upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore that may not favor the RB20. This could mean further challenges ahead for Red Bull.

New Audi CEO witnesses challenges firsthand

Newly appointed Audi leader Mattia Binotto attended the Sauber garage during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

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

Mattia Binotto will lead Audi's Formula 1 team in the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer, working alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the position of team principal once he moves over from Red Bull.

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

Sauber has not managed to secure a top 10 position at any race in 2024, and their performance at Monza was no exception.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu started from the last row on the grid and were clearly the slowest team during the race.

Binotto expressed to Motorsport.com, “We don’t have the luxury to fail. This team has to evolve into a victorious one in the future. The only path to achieve that is by making progress and advancing. We must start preparing ourselves now for what lies ahead.”

"Absolutely, we definitely need to make improvements. It's crucial for our own growth, vital for the team, essential for the brand, and significant for our partners. We simply cannot be satisfied with where we currently stand."

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