**”McLaren’s Strategic Dilemma: Back Norris for the Championship or Risk Another Missed Opportunity?”**

McLaren must now support Lando Norris, but he has to step up his game

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

Support for Norris is crucial

McLaren made headlines once more at the Italian Grand Prix by squandering yet another chance at an F1 victory.

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 tactic ended up costing them, as they opted for a two-stop strategy. In contrast, Ferrari went with just one stop for Charles Leclerc, who eventually secured a victory at their home race.

This marks the fourth occasion where McLaren has lost a chance at victory, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and possibly Belgium, where improved strategic choices could have secured a win.

Yet, the more urgent concern for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' title – and if it's the right moment to support him fully.

With eight rounds remaining, Norris trails Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' championship. Considering the current performance trends of the two teams, the British driver has a strong opportunity to win this year's title.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's difficulties, should encourage the top executives at the Woking team 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, with Crash.net in attendance, Stella stated, "We need to recognize that winning the constructor championship is within reach."

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

"In order for us to attain both championships as a team, we must ensure that the team and Lando are in optimal condition to compete."

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

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

Although Piastri's maneuver allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, it was in line with the team's pre-race directives.

Nevertheless, considering the chance that Norris might genuinely win the world championship this year, taking such a risk was unnecessary. The team could have easily managed this by giving clear instructions on behavior just for the first few corners before the race started.

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

Certainly, the team must decide how to proceed after Azerbaijan, but Norris should avoid providing Piastri with reasons (as seen in Hungary) to disrupt his quest for the championship.

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen all showed no mercy towards their teammates when necessary – now Norris must follow suit.

Not Just a ‘Qualifying Specialist’

Leclerc keeps delivering impressive performances on race days in 2024, and Monza was no exception.

Despite initially expressing frustration about being overtaken by Norris, Leclerc excelled in tire management once he had a clear track after the two McLarens made their second pit stops, ultimately securing a hard-fought and emotional win.

Historically, Leclerc has been frequently criticized as someone who excels only in qualifying sessions, earning the nickname 'quali merchant,' because he often secured pole positions on Saturdays but failed to maintain that performance during the main race.

This year's Ferrari has improved balance and a more neutral approach to handling its tires, which has allowed Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tire management during races on Sundays.

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

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 performance at the beginning of the season, where they dominated the first few races, it's astonishing to see them now 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 dominant in races to a position akin to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to financial constraints and limited development.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary resources and staff to improve the situation.

Red Bull faces a concerning situation as McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent update at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, where the RB20 is not anticipated to perform well, Red Bull is likely to encounter further challenges.

New Audi leader witnesses challenges firsthand

New Audi head Mattia Binotto attended the Sauber garage during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

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

Binotto is set to lead Audi's Formula 1 team as both Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will work alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who is expected to become the team principal after transitioning from Red Bull.

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

Sauber has not secured any top 10 finishes in 2024, and their performance at Monza was similarly disappointing.

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

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto stated, "It's not something we can afford. Our team needs to evolve into a winning team in the future. To achieve that, we must begin improving and making progress. We need to strengthen our abilities for what's ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we definitely need to make improvements. This is crucial not only for our own sake but also for the team, the brand, and our partners. We cannot be satisfied with where we currently stand."

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