McLaren’s Missed Opportunity: Could Better Teamwork Have Secured a 1-2 Finish at Monza?

Ferrari’s one-stop strategy proved successful at their home race in Monza, with Charles LeClerc claiming the top podium spot. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured second place, while his teammate Lando Norris finished a respectable third. However, this race, like many others this season, has left fans and analysts alike questioning McLaren’s strategy for their drivers and their approach to the Drivers’ Championship title.

Lando Norris, starting from pole for the fourth time this season, managed to maintain his lead off the launch and through turn one. But as they approached the second chicane, Piastri took Norris on the outside, putting the two McLarens wheel to wheel. With contact seeming inevitable, Norris was first to brake, allowing Piastri to pass. LeClerc capitalized on the situation, moving into second place behind Piastri. Is this where McLaren could have collaborated better to secure a potential 1-2 finish?

This raises questions about McLaren’s priorities. Without a clear, transparent plan for their drivers, many believe McLaren is risking missteps that could compromise their chances of securing both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Norris has made it clear he doesn’t want to be handed a title but wants to earn it. He stated in the FIA post-race press conference, “I’m not here just to beg for someone to let me pass. You know that’s not why I’m here, I’m here to race.”

McLaren has two incredibly talented, smart, and competitive drivers. However, only one can win the championship in a given year. So why does Zak Brown insist that “we have two number 1 drivers?” When asked repeatedly in post-race interviews about the “Papaya Rules,” Brown simply said, “Race each other respectfully, give each other enough room, and don’t touch each other, and that’s exactly what they did.”

But did they? Did Piastri leave Norris enough room in the second chicane? When asked about the incident, Norris responded, “I don’t know what I should have done differently there. If I brake one meter later, I probably would have crashed.” Regarding Piastri taking points away from him for the Drivers’ Championship, Norris said, “Well done to him. He did a good job. He got past me, and he deserves it.”

As the season progresses, should McLaren prioritize Norris’s championship opportunities? If Max Verstappen isn’t winning the championship, could his good friend Lando Norris be the one he hopes will? Verstappen commented after the Monza race, “At the moment, both championships are not realistic.” Or could Verstappen be playing a strategic game of his own?

Both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships remain wide open, with Verstappen, Norris, LeClerc, and their respective teams—Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari—all in contention. If McLaren isn’t careful, Ferrari could surpass them in both championships, with LeClerc only 24 points behind Norris and Ferrari just 39 points behind Red Bull. Ferrari has been on the podium in the last four races, while Red Bull has managed only one podium finish in the same period.

Charles LeClerc has now won both his home race in Monaco and Ferrari’s home race at Monza in 2024. The one achievement that could complete an incredible trifecta would be winning the Drivers’ Championship. If Ferrari continues to execute strong strategies and LeClerc manages his tires as he did in Monza, with eight races and three sprints left this season, it might just be possible. It’s a long shot, but let’s not rule them out just yet.