‘Baffled’ F1 presenter gives scathing McLaren verdict in ‘throw it away’ F1 2024 title warning

On several occasions this season, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have closely competed on the track.

F1 presenter, journalist and author Will Buxton said McLaren not swapping their drivers at Monza “baffles me”, in a lengthy questioning of the team’s tactics.

Oscar Piastri passed Lando Norris on the first lap of the Italian Grand Prix with a daring move at the Variante della Roggia on Sunday, eventually going on to finish second ahead of his team-mate as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc executed a one-stop strategy to take a superb victory.

Will Buxton gives McLaren verdict: ‘They’ve got to be smarter’

Debate has continued since the chequered flag fell about whether McLaren should fully back Norris in the World Championship fight against Max Verstappen, who remains 62 points in front with eight races to go in a comparatively struggling Red Bull.

However, Piastri hasn’t abandoned his own hopes of vying for the Drivers’ title. Although he is 106 points behind the top spot, a significant comeback would be needed for him to pose a championship challenge at this stage.

Buxton has joined others in advocating for McLaren to support Norris, who has a smaller deficit, due to his higher points tally. He stated that the team needs to strategize more effectively in their attempts to catch up with Verstappen and Red Bull.

“It just doesn’t make sense to me that you allow your drivers to fight,” Buxton said on F1 TV.

Did Oscar successfully execute one of the season’s best moves? Absolutely. It was a bold and masterfully performed maneuver. However, it begs the question: why is McLaren permitting their drivers to be in a position where they are competing against each other?

If you’re leading a race with a one-two, you must safeguard that position as you aim to earn Constructors’ points. Additionally, you must determine which of your drivers has a higher chance of winning the World Championship with nine races remaining.

More on McLaren and their rules of engagement

 ‘Papaya rules’ explained: What are McLaren instructing their drivers with new phrase?

 Follow PlanetF1.com’s WhatsApp and Facebook channels for all the F1 breaking news!

Red Bull struggled this weekend, not appearing strong enough for a podium finish and, in the end, they failed to secure a top five finish. Despite possessing the fastest car, they were on the back foot.

Why aren’t you prioritising the person who will benefit the most from this? Why not switch them on the final lap to score some extra points? At this stage, it’s not about surrendering a win, but rather securing a second place.

Does it make a difference in the grand scheme of things? No, you’re still earning the same amount of points for McLaren. This isn’t about me being British, I simply desire to witness a championship contest.

I genuinely can’t comprehend McLaren’s actions, and haven’t been able to for months, as none of it seems logical.

“It seems the only logical explanation is Oscar’s contract might include a stipulation stating he must be considered number one. This could be why Zak Brown continues to assert that we have ‘two number one drivers.'”

Mark Webber is his manager, and it’s well known that Mark didn’t appreciate being second at Red Bull. There might be a clause in their contract ensuring they always have equal status. However, there should also be a provision stating, ‘Unless we’re in a position to win the championship.’ But they can’t wait until it’s statistically impossible for Oscar to win the championship.

You need to be sensible and smart, which they’re currently not demonstrating.

I’m perplexed because they’re on the verge of wasting this opportunity – one that doesn’t come around every year. It’s uncertain when their next chance will be, yet they’re still willing to squander it. At this point, they would only have themselves to blame, given their lack of strategic play.

“And given Ferrari’s speed today and their proximity in the Constructors’ standings, it’s not certain that McLaren will easily secure a win.”

We’ve been asserting their need for intelligence for months. I’m unaware of how much longer we can continue to emphasize this point, particularly as it’s evident that Lando was driving in anger.

“He was making errors such as overdriving the car and striking the bollard on his way into the pits. It seems like he believes he was cheated at the race’s start and is questioning, ‘Why did this occur? How did it happen?’ Clearly, they’re on the verge of ruining everything.”

Read next: Lights out and away we go! PlanetF1.com’s new comment section is here!