### “McLaren’s Italian GP Drama: Why It’s Time to Fully Back Lando Norris for the Championship

McLaren needs to support Lando Norris, but he must also step up

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

Support for Norris is necessary

McLaren found themselves in the spotlight yet again at the Italian Grand Prix where they lost another chance to win an F1 race.

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

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

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

The more urgent matter for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship – and deciding if they should support him at this point.

With eight rounds remaining, Norris is trailing Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' championship. Considering the current performance trends of their teams, the British driver stands a strong chance of claiming this year’s title.

McLaren's outstanding performance, compared to Red Bull's troubles, ought to inspire the senior management in Woking to support Norris in his quest 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, where Crash.net was in attendance, he informed the press, "We must now be in a position to recognize that the constructor championship is achievable," Stella mentioned.

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

Reflecting on the events of the first lap, Piastri's actions during his side-by-side battle with Norris were entirely justifiable.

His move on Norris was impressive and bold; it could have secured him the victory at Monza if he had committed to a one-stop strategy.

Although Piastri's moves allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, they were in line with the team's guidelines given before the race.

However, considering the chance that Norris might actually win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. It was something the team could have easily managed with straightforward pre-race guidelines regarding behavior after the initial set of corners.

Nonetheless, Norris cannot be exempt from criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially provided an easy opportunity for his teammate to overtake him.

It is clear that the team must make a choice starting from the Azerbaijan event. However, Norris should avoid providing Piastri with reasons, as he did in Hungary, to disrupt his championship efforts.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen all showed no mercy towards their teammates when necessary – now it's Norris's turn to adopt the same approach.

Not Just a Qualifying Specialist

Leclerc consistently delivers strong performances on race days in 2024, and Monza was another example of his excellence.

Despite initially expressing frustration about Norris undercutting him, Leclerc showcased excellent tyre management once he had clear track after both McLarens pitted for their second stops, ultimately securing a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc frequently received the nickname of a 'quali merchant' or a one-trick pony because of his incredible speed during qualifying sessions on Saturdays, where he often secured pole position, but then struggled to maintain that performance during the race.

This season's Ferrari has improved in balance and neutrality regarding tyre management, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skill in tyre conservation during Sunday races.

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

Unanticipated Downturn for Red Bull

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

Considering their strong performance at the beginning of the season, where they dominated the initial races, it's astonishing that they are now leaving a race weekend ranked as the fourth-best team.

This decline in performance has never been seen before.

Brawn GP transitioned from being leading race winners to a position comparable to Red Bull's current status, primarily due to insufficient funds and development.

Red Bull possesses both the necessary resources and staff to make a comeback.

The concerning issue for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with the latest upgrade from the Dutch Grand Prix. Additionally, upcoming tracks such as those in Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are predicted to be unfavorable for the RB20, suggest that Red Bull could face further challenges ahead.

Audi’s new leader, Mattia Binotto, observed the challenges firsthand in the Sauber garage during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

This marks the initial occasion we have observed the ex-Ferrari chief participating with the Hinwil team following 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 become the team principal once he transfers from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a huge challenge as Sauber is currently last in the constructors' championship.

Sauber has not managed to secure a top 10 placement in 2024, and their performance at Monza was no different.

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

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "It's not something we can allow. Our team needs to transform into a victorious one in the future. The path to achieving that is by making steady improvements and advancing. We must strengthen ourselves in preparation for what's ahead."

"Indeed, I believe we must make improvements. This is crucial for our own benefit, for the team's success, for the brand's reputation, and for our partners. Remaining in our current situation is simply not acceptable."

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