Time for McLaren to Back Norris: Key Takeaways from a Dramatic Italian Grand Prix

McLaren Needs to Support Lando Norris More, but He Also Must Step Up

An analysis of key discussions after an eventful Italian Grand Prix, highlighting McLaren's hesitation in fully supporting Lando Norris.

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McLaren found themselves in the spotlight again during the Italian Grand Prix, as they squandered yet another chance to win an F1 race.

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

McLaren's conservative tactics proved costly when they opted for a two-stop plan, while Ferrari chose a one-stop strategy with Charles Leclerc, leading to a victory in their home race.

This marks the fourth chance missed by McLaren to secure a win, following similar outcomes in Canada, Britain, and potentially Belgium, where improved strategic choices could have led to victory.

The bigger concern for McLaren right now is Norris' quest for the drivers' championship – and if they should start supporting him at this point.

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

The strong performance of McLaren, compared to the troubles faced by Red Bull, ought to inspire the top brass at the Woking team to support Norris in his quest for this year's world championship.

Following the Monza event, it seems that team leader Andrea Stella is inclined to take that course of action.

During a media session at Monza, where Crash.net was in attendance, he stated, "We must now recognize that winning not just the constructors' championship is within reach," Stella commented.

"Given the current performance of our car and the challenges Red Bull is facing, it is certainly achievable from a driver's perspective."

"In order for us to compete for both championships, we must ensure that both the team and Lando are in the best possible position."

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

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

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

Considering that Norris has a genuine chance to clinch the world championship this year, the risk was unnecessary. The team could have easily managed it with straightforward pre-race guidelines regarding behavior during the initial corners.

Nonetheless, Norris warrants criticism for his lackluster defense against Piastri, which essentially allowed his teammate to overtake him.

Without question, the team must decide on a course of action starting from the Azerbaijan race. However, Norris should avoid providing Piastri with reasons (as seen in Hungary) to disrupt his championship ambitions.

F1 drivers Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen have all shown a fierce competitive edge against their teammates when necessary. Now, it's time for Lando Norris to adopt a similar approach.

Beyond just excelling in qualifying

Leclerc keeps delivering impressive race day performances in 2024, with Monza being another example.

Although he initially expressed frustration about being overtaken by Norris, Leclerc displayed exceptional tire management when the two McLaren drivers pitted for their second stops. This allowed him to maintain a strong position and ultimately secure a heartfelt win.

Previously, Leclerc was frequently considered a 'qualifying specialist' or someone with a single talent because of his exceptional speed during Saturdays, usually securing pole position but then not maintaining that performance throughout the race.

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

Leclerc has shown that he is a versatile driver who will undoubtedly challenge Hamilton significantly in the coming year.

Unforeseen Decline for Red Bull

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 start of the season, where they dominated the initial races, it's astonishing to see them now finishing a race weekend as only the fourth-best team.

A decline in performance of this magnitude has never been seen before.

Although Brawn GP transitioned from being dominant race winners to a situation similar to Red Bull's current standing, this shift was primarily due to insufficient funds and limited development.

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

Red Bull faces a concerning situation as McLaren has enhanced their vehicle with a recent upgrade introduced at the Dutch Grand Prix. With upcoming tracks such as Azerbaijan and Singapore, which are anticipated to be unfavorable for the RB20, Red Bull is likely to experience further challenges.

New Audi CEO Mattia Binotto witnessed challenges firsthand while visiting the Sauber garage during the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

This marks the initial occasion that the ex-Ferrari chief has been seen participating with the Hinwil team since his appointment was declared in July.

Binotto is set to lead Audi’s Formula 1 team as both the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. He will work alongside Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the role of team principal once he transfers from Red Bull.

The Italian faces a daunting task as Sauber sits at the bottom of the constructors’ championship standings.

Sauber has not achieved a top 10 finish in 2024, and their performance at Monza continued this trend.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu secured the last positions on the 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 ourselves. Our team needs to transform into a winning one in the future. The path to achieving that is by making continuous progress and advancing. We must prepare ourselves for future challenges."

"Absolutely, I believe improvement is necessary. It's crucial not just for our own sake, but also for the team's success. This matters for our brand and our partners as well. We can't be content with where we currently stand."

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