David Coulthard criticises key decision McLaren made with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at Monza

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If McLaren can maximise their potential over the final eight race weekends of the 2024 Formula 1 season, they could win both championships for the first time in 26 years.

Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard were McLaren’s drivers that year and it was the Finn who eventually led the team to victory.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are in a much trickier situation having not started the season as strongly as they would have liked.

However, the update package that arrived in Miami has catapulted them to the front of the grid and while Red Bull continue to flounder, an unlikely opportunity has presented itself to the Woking-based team.

Every decision McLaren make between now and the end of the season is set to be heavily scrutinised.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

After locking out the front row of the grid at the Italian Grand Prix, Norris and Piastri should have scored enough points to overtake Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship.

However, they both lost out to Charles Leclerc and speaking to Channel 4 after the race, Coulthard explains one key decision McLaren that he didn’t agree with.

The Scot had no problem with Piastri and Norris fighting on the first lap and Coulthard admitted that it was good for McLaren that they were so competitive.

Looking back at the end of the race, however, Coulthard thinks that Piastri should have handed 2^nd place to Norris once he realised he couldn’t catch Leclerc.

The 24-year-old has a 62-point gap to close by the end of the season finale in Abu Dhabi and Coulthard wonders if every point is going to matter when it comes down to the wire.

David Coulthard thinks Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri should have swapped in Monza

Asked if he would have switched both drivers at the end of the race, Coulthard replied: “I would, based on what I’ve learned through my racing career where I was in a situation where Mika [Hakkinen] was a bit quicker in qualifying and developing the better chance of a championship.

“We were up against Ferrari and Michael Schumacher, I didn’t like it but I think that taking a look at the bigger picture, they can win this Constructors’, they’re only 10 [eight] points away.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from height and parents to celebration

“They still could also win the Drivers’ Championship with another not-so-very-good points-scoring day for Max Verstappen and although Lando [was] brilliant again getting the fastest lap on the last lap, that could be crucial later in the year.”

Lewis Hamilton shared his McLaren theory after the Italian Grand Prix

McLaren will feel like they’ve missed out on yet another victory this season in a similar way to their strategy fumble at Silverstone.

Piastri would need an extraordinary set of events to take place to win the championship at this stage and if McLaren want to complete the double over Red Bull this year then they need to start prioritising Norris.

That might mean a change in the papaya rules used by McLaren in Monza that allow both drivers to race.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

Piastri took full advantage when he sent an incredible move down the inside of the second chicane on the opening lap.

However, Lewis Hamilton believes McLaren may have suffered at Monza because of decisions like that.

He suggested that both drivers pushed too hard and as a result weren’t in a position to execute a one-stop strategy.

That was all the invitation Leclerc needed to gamble and secure a famous win in front of the Tifosi.