Stella on what it takes to help Norris reach F1’s ‘incredibly high bar’
For McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, helping Lando Norris reach the “incredibly high” bar set in F1 by the likes of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton requires more than talent behind the wheel – it demands a culture of performance, accountability, and relentless growth within the team.
Norris challenged Verstappen for world title last season but ultimately came up short in his efforts to beat the Dutchman to the ultimate prize.
Red Bull's dominant early-season performance largely cemented Verstappen's triumph - a luxury that Norris lacked.
Stella acknowledged McLaren’s role in the missed opportunity while emphasizing the magnitude of Norris's ambition. It's not just about individual brilliance; it's about the team providing the tools for success.
“With the drivers, we have to say that recently we have had [Lewis] Hamilton and Verstappen, the bar is incredibly high,”
“This requires the team to support the driver because Lando was unable to stay in the quest until the last race because we, as a team, did not provide him with a fast enough car at the start of the season.”
McLaren’s Mid-Season Resurgence
McLaren’s fortunes, however, underwent a dramatic transformation after a rocky start.
“After we developed the Miami upgrade, pretty much he was on par with Verstappen in terms of points,” Stella noted.
©McLaren
The upgraded MCL38 propelled McLaren from F1’s midfield after the first race to emerging as the strongest team in the second half of the season.
The resurgence allowed Norris to challenge Verstappen on more equal footing and helped secure McLaren’s first Constructors’ Championship in over a decade.
This remarkable turnaround speaks to the strength of McLaren’s internal culture, something Stella sees as a cornerstone of success.
Building a Culture for Sustained Excellence
For Stella, fostering a “human culture” within McLaren is as crucial as engineering performance.
“The team culture is a fundamental element to be able to maximise what you have available, but also to let the talent flourish and to allow the missed opportunities in particular, to be reviewed, to learn and grow,” he explained.
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“It’s really difficult to capitalise without having a strong performance and also human culture.”
The emphasis on collaboration, learning from mistakes, and creating an environment where drivers can thrive has been instrumental in McLaren’s resurgence.
Norris, too, has recognized the areas where he can improve and has vowed to address the weaknesses that impacted his title bid.
As McLaren gears up for the 2025 season, Stella’s commitment to providing Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri with a championship-caliber car from the outset is evident.
With McLaren’s revamped approach and a renewed focus on empowering their drivers, Norris’ journey to surpass the “incredibly high bar” set by Verstappen and Hamilton may well be within reach.
If the team can deliver on Stella’s vision, the upcoming season could mark the beginning of a new era for both Norris and McLaren.
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