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

McLaren Must Support Lando Norris, Who Also Has to Step Up His Game

Examining the key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren's hesitancy to fully support Lando Norris

Support for Norris is due now

At the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren found themselves in the spotlight once more, squandering yet another chance to clinch an F1 Grand Prix win.

Oscar Piastri delivered an outstanding performance at the Monza circuit, executing a bold maneuver to pass his McLaren teammate Lando Norris, subsequently establishing a lead of more than five seconds.

McLaren's conservative strategy backfired when they opted for a two-stop plan, in contrast to Ferrari's decision to go with a single-stop strategy for Charles Leclerc, who ended up clinching a victory on his home turf.

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

Yet, the urgent matter for McLaren centers on Norris' quest for the championship title among drivers – questioning if it's the moment to fully support him.

Norris is currently trailing Max Verstappen by 62 points in the championship standings, with eight races remaining. Given the current performance trends of both teams, the British racer stands a strong chance of clinching this year's title.

McLaren's remarkable performance, as opposed to Red Bull's difficulties, should inspire the senior leadership of the Woking-based team to support Norris in his quest for this year's world championship.

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

Speaking to the press at Monza, where representatives from Crash.net were in attendance, he stated, "It's time for us to recognize that winning the constructors' championship is within our reach," added Stella.

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

"Therefore, to aim for success in both championships, it's essential for us to ensure that both the team and Lando are in optimal shape to chase these titles."

Reflecting on the events of the first lap, Piastri's behavior during the close-quarters racing with Norris should not be met with any disapproval.

His move on Norris was breathtaking and bold, and it could have secured his victory at Monza if he had maintained a one-stop strategy.

Piastri's maneuvers allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, and these actions did not contradict the team's guidelines established before the race.

Considering the chance of Norris potentially clinching the world championship title this year, it was an unnecessary gamble that could have been avoided if the team had provided clear guidance on how to behave after the first few corners before the race started.

Nonetheless, Norris cannot avoid blame for his lackluster defense against Piastri, essentially allowing his teammate an easy opportunity to overtake him.

Certainly, moving forward from the Azerbaijan event, the team must reach a conclusion. However, Norris should refrain from providing Piastri with reasons, similar to what happened in Hungary, to disrupt his quest for the championship.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen consistently displayed fierce competitiveness towards their team members when the situation demanded it – now, it's Norris's turn to adopt a similar approach.

Beyond being just a 'qualifying specialist'

In 2024, Leclerc keeps delivering powerful performances during races, with his showing at Monza being no exception.

Initially expressing frustration over Norris overshadowing him, Leclerc found himself with an opportunity to shine as both McLarens pitted for their second stops. He skillfully handled his tyres and ultimately secured a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently tagged as a 'quali merchant' or seen as having a limited skill set because of his exceptional speed during Saturday's qualifying sessions, typically securing the pole position, but then failing to maintain his performance afterwards.

This year, Ferrari’s car has shown improved balance and a more neutral approach to tyre management, allowing Leclerc to demonstrate his exceptional skills in tyre conservation during Sunday races, positioning him among the elite in this aspect.

Leclerc has proven himself to be a versatile driver who is undoubtedly going to pose a significant challenge for Hamilton in the upcoming year.

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

Considering their strong start at the beginning of the season, leading the first 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 unparalleled.

Brawn GP transitioned from leading the pack in races to a status akin to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to financial constraints and restricted growth.

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

The concerning aspect for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle through the latest upgrade at the Dutch GP, and with upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore that are not anticipated to favor the RB20, it seems there could be further challenges ahead.

Audi's new leader, Mattia Binotto, observed challenges firsthand

In his new role, Mattia Binotto, the recently appointed head of Audi, was spotted in the Sauber team's area during this weekend's

This marks the initial occasion that the ex-Ferrari chief has been associated with the Hinwil team since his introduction in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi's Formula 1 team in the dual roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer, working in tandem with Jonathan Wheatley. Wheatley, who will serve as the team principal, will join the team from Red Bull at a later date.

The Italian faces a colossal task as Sauber currently sits at the last place in the constructors' championship.

Sauber hasn't managed to achieve a top 10 finish throughout 2024, and their performance at Monza did not show any improvement.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu found themselves at the very end of the grid, trailing as the slowest team during the race.

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

"Indeed, there's a definite need for enhancement. This is crucial not just for us personally, but also for the team, the brand, and our partners. Accepting our current status is not an option."

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