McLaren team boss Andrea Stella is proud of his driver Lando Norris. The Italian sees how the young Brit has matured into a seasoned driver, capable of competing with ‘one of the best drivers in Formula 1 history’: Max Verstappen. However, Stella regrets the points Norris lost in Austria after his battle with the same Verstappen.
Lando Norris is only 47 points behind Max Verstappen in the drivers’ championship, making him the most likely candidate to prevent the Dutchman from securing his fourth world title. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella is therefore proud of his driver and the growth he has shown as a title contender.
“I think Lando is definitely a mature driver now who can handle these kinds of battles, a fight against one of the best drivers in the history of Formula 1,” Stella said during the FIA press conference. The Italian team boss also complimented rival Verstappen. “Titles, if you look at the titles Max has won, I think this is widely recognized.”
Earnest and Fair
According to Stella, it is therefore crucial that Norris continues in the same manner as in recent races, ‘honestly and fairly’. “We keep telling Lando: keep doing what we’re doing, let’s keep improving, let’s become the best version of ourselves, race after race.”
The team boss reveals that McLaren’s approach is largely a response to races like the Austrian Grand Prix. During the race at the Red Bull Ring, Norris, partly due to his battle with Verstappen, left valuable points on the table. “The points we miss from Austria, because we had a significant collision and were subsequently knocked out of the race, are points we regret. We don’t really regret many other points this season. Possibly those in Austin, where we still believe the final standings are not correct, but we respect the work of the stewards.
