**”McLaren’s Italian Grand Prix Drama: Time to Back Norris Amid Strategy Missteps and Red Bull’s Unprecedented Downfall”**

It's crucial for McLaren to support Lando Norris, although he must also step up his own efforts. In the aftermath of an eventful Italian Grand Prix, the spotlight is on McLaren's hesitance to fully endorse Norris.

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McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more during the Italian Grand Prix, squandering yet another chance at a Formula 1 win.

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

McLaren's conservative strategy proved detrimental as they opted for two pit stops, in contrast to Ferrari's single-stop plan with Charles Leclerc, who went on to secure a victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth missed chance for McLaren, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where they could have secured victories with more effective strategic choices.

The more urgent concern for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and whether they should support him at this point.

With eight races 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 has a strong opportunity to secure this year’s title.

McLaren's excellent performance, especially when compared to Red Bull's struggles, ought to inspire the leadership team in Woking to support Norris in his bid for this year's world championship.

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

Speaking to the press at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he stated, "We must now be in a position to recognize that winning the constructors' championship is achievable," Stella added.

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

"In order to go after both championships, we must ensure that the team and Lando are in the best possible shape."

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri's actions during his close racing with Norris were beyond reproach.

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

Although Piastri's actions allowed Leclerc to pass Norris, they did not go against the team's pre-race guidelines.

Nevertheless, considering the chance that Norris could genuinely win the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed this with a straightforward pre-race directive regarding behavior after the initial corners.

Nonetheless, Norris himself cannot be exempt from criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, as he essentially left an opening for his teammate to overtake.

Certainly, the team has to decide on a strategy starting from the Azerbaijan race, but Norris must avoid providing Piastri with opportunities (as seen in Hungary) to disrupt his quest for the championship.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen have all shown a fierce competitive edge against their teammates when necessary – now it's time for Lando Norris to adopt the same approach.

Not Just a ‘Qualifying Expert’

Leclerc consistently delivers impressive performances on race day in 2024, with Monza being no exception.

Despite initially expressing frustration about Norris undermining his performance, Leclerc expertly managed his tyres once he had a clear track following the second pit stops for both McLaren cars. He then held on to secure a deeply emotional win.

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

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

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

Unforeseen Red Bull decline

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

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

A decline in performance like this has never been seen before.

Brawn GP, initially strong race victors, eventually found themselves in a position similar to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to insufficient funds and limited development.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary assets and team members to make a successful comeback.

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

New Audi CEO Mattia Binotto witnessed the challenges firsthand while in the Sauber garage during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

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

Binotto will lead Audi’s F1 team as the Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer, working alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will become the team principal after his transition from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a colossal task with Sauber currently at the bottom of the constructors’ championship standings.

Sauber has not managed to achieve a top 10 finish at any race in 2024, and the Monza event proved to be no exception.

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

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto expressed that the team cannot afford any setbacks. He emphasized the necessity for the team to evolve into a victorious one in the future. According to Binotto, the path to achieving this goal involves continuous improvement and preparation, akin to training muscles for future challenges.

"Absolutely, I believe there's a definite need for improvement. This is crucial not just for us personally, but also for the team, the brand, and our partners. We can't simply be content with where we are right now."

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