this post was submitted on 01 Sep 2024
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To win the drivers championship, McLaren had to execute 9 perfect races including Monza. We're talking about a team that had 0 perfect races this season. Norris isn't in the fight, the intrigue that the media is creating is purely artificial. Which is sad, because this season is interesting enough without it. There is no need for unreasonable fantasies.
They MUST capitalize as much as possible on any weekend where Max/RB are not strong, such as this one.
In a perfect world, Lando and Oscar would have worked together to defend from Ferrari and secure their 1-2 with Lando at the front. That would have been 17 points to relieve them a bit of this pressure of performing perfectly on all remaining weekends.
Of course we don't know if Charles/Ferrari would have won either way with their strategy. But Oscar gifting Charles a Lap 1 overtake on Lando and both McLarens straining their tyres racing against each other probably didn't hurt Ferrari.
Before today I seriously thought that Lando/McLaren had a chance at WDC, especially with Baku and Singapur still coming up. But as you said, they have shown again and again this season that they can't execute the race weekends necessary for this to happen.
In addition to their repeated strategic blunders, it also feels like they've just never readjusted to the reality that they have a shot at the WDC. It's like they're still in a world where Max is 300 points ahead and they're all "we've got two good drivers, let's let them race!". This season would have been one for the ages had they just fucking capitalised on their pace, but at this rate Max is going to stumble across the line to the most underwhelming Driver's Championship in ages.
In my opinion, McLaren should have "let them race" up until the summer break. After that, support the driver closest to Verstappen. If something unforeseen happens and the "second" driver gets ahead, then full support to him. Simple and clear. Maximize points for the best positioned driver in the WDC and for the team in the WCC.
I still have hopes for Norris taking the WDC, but it will be a tall order. It might come down to fastest lap points even! But he will have to have full support from the team and Piastri.
I would have gone full ruthless points-maximising for Lando even earlier, as it was clear only he would have even a remote shot of catching Max. But you're right, summer break at the latest.
Given McLaren threw away at least three points here (by not swapping positions of Lando and Oscar) it might indeed come down to fastest laps. Which is a pressure it would have been nice to avoid by capitalising better on this race.
Agree, it's like the "Checo will challenge Max for WDC" in 2023 media spin.
The drivers are good, the car is great. The team is not acting like they wanna win the WDC and barely like they wanna win the WCC. They're like surprised to find themselves up in the field