In the midst of Lando Norris’s first championship campaign, McLaren boss Andrea Stella is keeping his young driver grounded amid the intense media speculation surrounding his battle with reigning champion Max Verstappen. As Norris challenges for the F1 title, Stella has taken a proactive role, reassuring the 24-year-old and helping him focus on the bigger picture.
The recent Mexican Grand Prix showcased Norris’s competitive edge, with the McLaren driver finishing ahead of Verstappen after the Dutchman received two 10-second penalties. While Stella praised the hard racing on display, he pointed out the need for regulatory intervention to maintain fairness. “It’s good to race hard, but it can’t be resolved on track by the two drivers. It needs a third party. It needs the authority,” Stella emphasized, reflecting on the stewards’ involvement in Verstappen’s penalties.
With the media constantly analyzing the Norris-Verstappen rivalry, Stella shared that he often sits down with Norris to reassure him. “Anytime I read these kinds of headlines, I always need to have a conversation with Lando and reassure him, ‘Don’t worry; it will be alright. Time is a gentleman,’” said Stella, reminding Norris that his talent and determination will pay off with patience.
During the Mexican GP, Norris received a clear directive from the McLaren pit wall: he had the pace to challenge Verstappen, and he was free to go for it. Stella noted Norris’s maturity in balancing his aggressive approach with the need to keep his car intact. “The message we gave to Lando was, ‘We have pace. If we can pass him, let’s do it.’… We didn’t need to repeat that to Lando,” Stella remarked, confident in Norris’s judgment.
As the season nears its end, Norris’s quest for the title remains a challenging one. To win, he must outperform Verstappen in all of the final four races. With Stella’s steady guidance and Norris’s growing confidence, fans are in for a thrilling conclusion to this hard-fought championship battle.
