The Japanese Grand Prix ended with a question: could McLaren have done more and won a race in which they were considered favorites heading into the weekend? Realistically, yes—even starting from qualifying, where the two Woking drivers failed to deliver standout laps.
Yet, there was still a sense that the outcome could be overturned, or at least that it was worth trying. On lap 20, as analyzed after the race, a small opportunity arose to attempt an undercut on Max Verstappen and go all in for the win. But it was a move that required both strategic flexibility and courage, as it was not without risks.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing; there were a lot of things we could have done, but none without taking risks. I think it’s very easy—even for me—just getting out of the car, to look at what happened and not be happy with how things went and our approach,” commented Norris, reflecting on the Suzuka race on the eve of the Bahrain GP.
There was a chance: was it worth the risk?
Norris rightly spoke about risks because there was no guarantee the undercut would work without a margin for error. The gap was so tight that even a small mistake could have dropped him back out behind Oliver Bearman, making the undercut impossible to complete.
To rejoin ahead of the Haas driver, everything needed to be perfect—and even then, success wasn’t certain. That’s why the McLaren driver spoke so clearly about the risks involved. “There was no guarantee it would work, or that I’d get ahead of Max Verstappen.”
“So, as much as people want to talk and say we didn’t do a good job, I disagree. I stand by our decisions as a team, and I have a lot of trust that we always act in the team’s best interest,” the Briton added.
These final words open up a broader discussion. Was it a risk worth taking? Yes, if the goal was to aim solely for victory and beat Verstappen. No, if the priority was fairness and equal treatment for both drivers. In fact, on the very same lap when there was a slim chance of making the undercut work on Verstappen, Oscar Piastri was called into the pits.
The decision to pit Oscar Piastri on that lap seemed more geared toward long-term strategy than short-term gains. There was no immediate threat of an undercut from Russell, who was nearly five seconds back. Not even Charles Leclerc, the most at risk, responded immediately—he stayed out for another lap, as the Mercedes driver would have ended up in traffic.
Essentially, McLaren wanted to pre-emptively cover off a potential stop from the Ferrari driver to guarantee Piastri a podium without compromising his position. An “equal” approach toward both drivers, which nonetheless cost them a chance to surprise Red Bull.
“Potentially, I believe in many scenarios, with two cars in our positions, we could go for first and third, or even first and second. But we didn’t have a big gap behind us, and that complicated things. George went for the undercut on both Ferrari and potentially Oscar. If Oscar had stopped, Ferrari probably would’ve passed him, so things were done in the order needed for us as a team.”
Lando Norris calls for more aggressive strategies
This has led Norris to highlight the need to be more aggressive with strategy in the future to score world championship points that could make a difference by season’s end. The logic of maintaining a balanced approach between both drivers makes sense if the title fight is internal. But what if another contender enters the fray? Sure, there’s a risk of losing points—but also a chance to gain them.
“Would I reassess the level of risk to take? That’s probably the most important question after last weekend. Would I be willing to take the risk of falling behind a few cars to aim for the win? Yes. We still got a second and a third place, which is good for the constructors’, but I lost to Max, who is my main rival,” Norris added.
“Could we have done better and taken more risks, attacked as a team? Yes. But, like I said, none of those decisions were risk-free. In the end, I agree with the approach taken at Suzuka, but I’d like us to be a bit more aggressive at times in the coming weekends.”
If there’s one thing the 2024 season has taught, it’s that opportunities must be seized. At Suzuka, McLaren prioritized the team result at a time when the MCL39 is clearly a reference car, but it’s clear Norris can’t afford to lose points along the way. Last year, the Woking team made strategic missteps by failing to capitalize on certain chances.
For now, Norris’s main rival remains Oscar Piastri, since McLaren’s competitiveness is not in doubt. But Verstappen remains a dangerous opponent. Sometimes, taking risks can make all the difference—especially considering Red Bull has often won thanks to spot-on strategy.
McLaren’s two-pronged policy: will it always work?
“I think sometimes there’s the chance to risk more to try to win. There’s no guarantee: I might get stuck, Oscar could pass me, or I could get undercut by another driver and lose positions. I have to accept that risk exists,” Norris explained again. But it’s clear that this reasoning must also be applied practically, not just in theory.
“Second place isn’t a bad result, but I need to win races, not finish second. I’d like to go back and redo things with a more aggressive approach, but I know the season is still long.” In effect, Lando Norris is suggesting that he not only wants bolder tactics but also a reevaluation of what’s the best chance to win the championship.
Right now, the Woking team finds itself in a tricky position managing its drivers, sticking to a two-pronged approach. With such a competitive car, it knows that potentially both its drivers could be in the title fight. It’s clear that the team doesn’t want to favor one over the other, aiming to maintain strict neutrality—even if it means missing out on certain opportunities.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, has so far done a good job maintaining this balance between the drivers, putting the team’s interests first and guaranteeing equal treatment. However, as shown in Japan, this approach has not only benefits but also limitations. It’s a compromise McLaren seems willing to accept—but will it work once the title fight becomes more intense or if another rival enters the picture?
Leave a Reply