McLaren’s Strategic Gamble: Time to Back Lando Norris Amid Italian GP Drama

McLaren should support Lando Norris, but he must also step up

Examining the key discussions after a thrilling Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren's hesitance to fully endorse Lando Norris

Support for Norris is crucial

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

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

McLaren's careful strategy backfired when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc, chose a one-stop strategy and ended up winning the race in front of their home crowd.

This marks the fourth missed chance for McLaren to secure a win, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where improved strategic choices could have made the difference.

Nevertheless, McLaren faces a more urgent concern: Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and determining if it’s the right moment to fully support him.

With eight races remaining, Norris is trailing Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers' championship. Considering the current performance trends of their respective teams, the British driver has a strong opportunity to clinch the title this year.

McLaren's strong performance, compared to Red Bull's struggles, is likely to encourage the senior leadership in Woking to support Norris in his bid for this year's world championship.

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

Speaking to the press at Monza, with Crash.net in attendance, Stella remarked, "We must now recognize that not only the constructors' championship is achievable."

"Given our current car performance and observing some of Red Bull's difficulties, 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 to compete."

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri should not be faulted for his actions during his close racing with Norris.

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

Although Leclerc was able to pass Norris as a result, Piastri's behavior was in line with the team's pre-race guidelines.

Nevertheless, considering that Norris has a real chance of winning the world championship this year, it was an unnecessary gamble. The team could have easily managed it by giving clear pre-race guidelines on behavior after the initial corners.

Nonetheless, Norris also deserves criticism for his lackluster defense, which essentially allowed Piastri to overtake him.

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

Notable drivers like Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen have all shown a willingness to be uncompromising with their teammates when the situation demanded it. Now, it's time for Lando Norris to adopt the same approach.

Above and Beyond in Qualifying

Leclerc has consistently delivered outstanding performances on race days in 2024, and Monza was no exception.

Despite initially voicing concerns about being undermined by Norris, Leclerc skillfully preserved his tyres after both McLaren cars pitted for their second stops, ultimately securing a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc frequently earned the nickname of a ‘qualifying specialist’ or was seen as only having one strong skill due to his incredible speed during Saturday sessions, where he often secured pole position but then didn't maintain that performance in the race.

This year's Ferrari, with its improved balance and neutral tyre handling, has enabled Leclerc to demonstrate his top-tier skills in tyre preservation during Sunday races.

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

Unforeseen Decline for Red Bull

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

Considering how they began the season by dominating the first few races, it's perplexing 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, once dominating races, found themselves in a situation akin to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to financial constraints and limited development.

Red Bull possesses all the necessary assets and team members to improve their situation.

The concerning aspect for Red Bull is that McLaren has enhanced their vehicle following the recent upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, tracks that are not anticipated to favor the RB20, Red Bull could be facing further challenges.

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

This marks the initial occasion we have observed the ex-Ferrari leader participating with the Hinwil team since 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, working in tandem with Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the position of team principal upon his future transition from Red Bull.

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

Sauber has not managed to secure a spot in the top 10 throughout the 2024 season, and the Monza race was no exception.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu occupied the last positions on the grid, making their team the slowest by a significant margin during the race.

Binotto informed Motorsport.com that they cannot afford it. He emphasized that their team needs to evolve into a winning team in the future. The only path to achieve this is by advancing and making progress. He added that they need to build their strength for what's ahead.

"Absolutely, we need to make improvements. It's crucial for our own sake, for the team's success, for the brand's reputation, and for our partners. We can't be satisfied with where we currently stand."

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