McLaren’s Moment of Truth: Time to Rally Behind Norris Amid Italian GP Drama and Red Bull’s Decline

The moment has come for McLaren to support Lando Norris – though he must also step up individually

Examining the key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, centering on McLaren's hesitation to fully support Lando Norris

Support is due for Norris

At the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more for missing out on yet another Formula 1 race win.

At the Monza circuit, Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive performance, 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 to be their downfall when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari chose a one-stop strategy for Charles Leclerc, who ended up clinching victory in his home country.

McLaren has faced its fourth instance of a missed win due to suboptimal strategy choices, following previous opportunities in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium.

Yet, a more urgent matter for McLaren lies in Norris' chase for the drivers' championship – questioning if it's the right moment to support him fully.

Norris trails Max Verstappen by 62 points in the drivers' championship, with eight races remaining. Considering the current momentum of both teams, the British driver stands a strong opportunity to clinch this year's title.

McLaren's remarkable performance, in stark contrast to the challenges faced by Red Bull, should inspire the senior leaders at the Woking-based team to support Norris in his pursuit of this year's world championship.

Following the race at Monza, it seems that team principal Andrea Stella is inclined to take that action.

Speaking to the press at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, Stella stated, "We now have to recognize that winning the constructors' championship is within our reach.”

"Looking at it from behind the wheel, given our current car's capabilities and the challenges Red Bull is facing, it certainly seems achievable."

"To successfully chase both titles, it's essential that we prepare both the team and Lando accordingly."

Reflecting on the initial lap, Piastri's actions during his side-by-side racing with Norris are beyond reproach.

His move on Norris was remarkable, forceful, and could have secured him the victory at Monza, had he maintained a one-stop strategy.

Piastri's maneuvers allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, aligning with the team's strategy outlined before the race.

Nevertheless, considering the potential for Norris to realistically clinch the world championship title this year, it was an unnecessary gamble that the team could have mitigated with straightforward pre-race guidelines on behavior after the initial series of turns.

Nonetheless, it's important not to overlook Norris's own shortcomings, particularly his feeble defense against Piastri, which essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Certainly, from Azerbaijan forward, it's crucial for the team to come to a conclusion. However, Norris must cease providing Piastri with reasons, as seen in Hungary, to disrupt his chase for the championship.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen consistently displayed a fierce competitive edge over their team members whenever necessary – now, it's Norris's turn to adopt a similar approach.

Far beyond being just a ‘qualifying specialist’

In 2024, Leclerc consistently delivers powerful performances during the races, with the event at Monza being no exception.

Despite initially expressing frustration about being disadvantaged by Norris, Leclerc skillfully handled his tyres after gaining an advantage when both McLarens pitted for their second stops. He then secured an emotional win with excellent tire management.

Previously, Leclerc frequently earned the tags ‘quali merchant’ and a one-trick pony because of his exceptional speed during Saturday's qualifying sessions, frequently securing the pole position, only to lose his advantage as the event progressed.

This season, the Ferrari has shown improved equilibrium and a more even approach to tyre management, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate that in terms of tyre conservation on race days, he ranks among the top performers.

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

Remarkable decline for Red Bull

At the Italian Grand Prix, Red Bull faced another setback as Verstappen crossed the finish line in sixth place, trailing more than 35 seconds after Leclerc.

Considering their strong beginning to the season, where they led the initial few races, it's perplexing to see them now finishing a race weekend ranked as only the fourth-best team.

This decline in performance is unmatched in history.

Brawn GP's transition from leading the pack in races to a status akin to Red Bull's current standing was primarily due to financial constraints and insufficient progress.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary assets and staff to make a turnaround.

A cause for concern for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle through the latest upgrade at the Dutch GP. Given the upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull might face further challenges.

Audi's new leader, Mattia Binotto, witnessed challenges firsthand from the Sauber team's pit at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

This marks the inaugural appearance of the ex-Ferrari chief with the Hinwil team since his introduction in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi's Formula 1 team in a dual role as Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer, working alongside Jonathan Wheatley. Wheatley, who is set to join from Red Bull, will take up the position of team principal.

The Italian faces a colossal challenge, as Sauber is currently last in the constructors' standings.

Sauber hasn't managed to secure a position within the top 10 throughout 2024, and their performance at Monza showed no improvement.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu found themselves at the very end of the lineup, being significantly slower than the rest of the competitors during the race.

Binotto conveyed to Motorsport.com, "It's beyond our budget. I believe that this team must evolve into a victorious team in the coming times. The sole path to achieve this is by advancing upwards, making progress. We have to build our strength for what lies ahead."

"Indeed, enhancing our performance is crucial. It's vital not just for our own growth, but also for the team's progress, the brand's reputation, and our partners' satisfaction. We simply cannot settle for where we stand right now."

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