Revving Up Support: McLaren’s Strategic Dilemma with Lando Norris Amid Italian GP Drama

McLaren must show support for Lando Norris – though he must also step up

Analyzing key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren's hesitation 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 opportunity to secure a Formula 1 win.

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

McLaren's careful strategy ended up costing them as they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari chose a one-stop tactic with Charles Leclerc, who eventually secured a victory in front of their home crowd.

This marks the fourth lost chance for McLaren to secure a win, following similar situations in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where improved strategic choices might have led to victory.

The more urgent matter for McLaren is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship and determining if they should support him now.

Norris is trailing Max Verstappen by only 62 points in the drivers’ championship with eight races remaining. Considering the current performance trends of their respective teams, the British driver stands a strong chance of winning the title this year.

McLaren’s strong performance, especially when compared to Red Bull’s struggles, should encourage the top executives at the Woking-based team 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, he mentioned, "At this point, we must recognize that not only is the constructor's championship achievable," Stella continued.

"Given the current performance of our car and the challenges Red Bull is facing, achieving success is certainly within reach from a driver's perspective."

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

Reflecting on the first lap, Piastri's actions in his side-by-side battle with Norris were beyond reproach.

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

Although Piastri's move allowed Leclerc to overtake Norris, it did not violate 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 risk. The team could have managed this by giving clear pre-race instructions on how to behave after the first few turns.

Nonetheless, Norris deserves some criticism for his poor defense against Piastri, essentially allowing his teammate to overtake him without much resistance.

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

Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen all showed no mercy to their teammates when the situation demanded it. Now, it's time for Norris to adopt the same approach.

Not Just a ‘Qualifying Specialist’

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

Despite his initial complaints about being outmaneuvered by Norris, Leclerc skillfully managed his tyres after both McLarens pitted for their second stops, ultimately securing an emotional victory.

In previous times, Leclerc was frequently called a 'qualifying specialist' or a one-dimensional driver because of his exceptional speed during Saturday's qualifying sessions, where he often secured pole position, but then struggled to maintain that performance in the races.

Thanks to the improved balance and neutral handling of this year's Ferrari, Leclerc has demonstrated that he ranks among the top drivers in terms of tyre preservation on race days.

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

Unseen 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 line.

Considering their strong start to the season, where they were leading the first few races, it's astonishing to see them now finishing a race weekend as only the fourth-best team.

A decline in performance to this extent has never been seen before.

Brawn GP transitioned from being dominant race victors to a status akin to Red Bull's current standing, primarily due to financial constraints and limited development.

Red Bull possesses both the necessary resources and skilled staff to improve their situation.

A concerning development for Red Bull is McLaren’s recent enhancement of their vehicle with upgrades during the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are anticipated to be less favorable for the RB20, Red Bull might face further challenges.

New Audi CEO witnesses challenges firsthand

The new head of Audi, Mattia Binotto, observed the action from the Sauber garage during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

This marks the debut appearance of the ex-Ferrari chief with the Hinwil team following his announcement in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi's F1 team in the dual role of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will work alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the position of team principal once he transitions from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a colossal challenge as Sauber sits at the lowest position in the constructors’ championship.

Sauber has not managed to secure a top 10 finish at all in 2024, and their performance at Monza did not improve their record.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu ended up occupying the last row of 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 allow. This team needs to transform into a championship-winning team in the future. The path to achieving that goal is by making consistent progress and advancing. We must prepare and strengthen ourselves for what's ahead."

"Absolutely, I believe we must make improvements. It's crucial for us individually, for the team as a whole, for the brand's reputation, and for our partners. We cannot simply be satisfied with our current standing."

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