Lando Norris is set to reignite his championship pursuit against Max Verstappen at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, aiming to close the 78-point gap between himself and his Red Bull rival on a Zandvoort circuit where Verstappen has never tasted defeat. With ten races remaining in the Formula 1 season, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has boldly declared Norris as “world championship material,” praising the Briton’s performances as being on par with some of the sport’s all-time greats.
Norris and Verstappen’s rivalry, which saw six fierce battles between the Miami and British Grands Prix, cooled off in the rounds leading up to the summer break. However, the tension is back at Zandvoort, where Norris topped the first practice session with a late flying lap, signaling that his championship hopes are very much alive.
“Lando is definitely world championship material,” Stella asserted. “He performs at levels that have been seen in past champions. He can win World Championships. That’s a statement, that’s capital letters.”
Despite the substantial gap in the standings, Stella emphasized that McLaren is not giving up. “Numerically, it looks like there’s a big gap to fill, and we are chasing Max Verstappen, so he’s not going to make it easy for us. But Lando is in this position because he performs very strongly, not because someone helped him. His achievements are well-deserved.”
Norris’s maiden F1 victory at the Miami Grand Prix earlier this year was expected to open the floodgates for more wins. Instead, it led to a series of near misses, including four second-place finishes and a third place, marred by a collision with Verstappen in Austria that cost him a shot at victory. Poor starts from pole position and team strategy errors, such as botched pit stops at Silverstone and Montreal, have also hindered his progress.
Stella acknowledged these setbacks as opportunities for the team to support Norris better in his first championship battle. “He’s on a journey, just like the entire team is. We see areas for improvement, particularly in the first lap and finding the right balance between aggression and avoiding accidents.”
Stella also highlighted the need for McLaren to improve its race operations, pointing to specific instances where the team’s decisions cost Norris valuable points. “Canada was a case where we didn’t pit Lando during a late safety car, and at Silverstone, the final stint was on the team. If the team had operated at higher standards, Lando would have more points in the championship.”
Despite the challenges, Stella is confident in Norris’s abilities and reassures him that the team stands behind him. “Lando often puts pressure on himself, but I have enough experience to say, ‘Mate, don’t worry. That’s on the team. Keep doing the good job.’”
As the 2024 season resumes at Zandvoort, all eyes will be on Norris and Verstappen as they battle it out on the Dutchman’s home turf. With McLaren’s recent upgrades and Norris’s determination, the race for the championship is far from over.
Photo from Lando Norris Instagram
