In a race that saw Lando Norris surge late to claim second at the Mexico City Grand Prix, McLaren boss Andrea Stella believes the British driver was capable of an outright win if not for early clashes with Max Verstappen.
The high-stakes race nearly swung in McLaren’s favor as Norris’s pace proved highly competitive with Ferrari’s. However, two critical incidents with Verstappen on Lap 10 left Norris trailing significantly, impacting his chance to catch Carlos Sainz, who ultimately took the victory.
Norris’s first encounter with Verstappen came at Turn 4, where an attempted overtake on the outside saw him pushed off the track. The incident earned Verstappen a 10-second penalty. Minutes later, Verstappen made a reckless dive at Turn 7, collecting another 10-second penalty as Norris, having returned to the track ahead, managed to avoid further incident.
Reflecting on the race, Stella admitted, “Without those early incidents, I think Lando could have fought for the victory today.” The costly moments meant Norris was nearly 15 seconds adrift of Sainz after Verstappen’s pit stop on Lap 27. By the end, Norris had closed the gap to just 4.7 seconds, underscoring his speed but leaving room for what might have been.
While frustrated by the missed opportunity, Stella praised Norris for handling the clash with composure and ensuring McLaren’s continued push in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. “Lando knows very well that this kind of overtaking needs to happen in a safe way,” Stella said, commending his driver’s balance of aggression with strategic restraint.
Norris’s late-race resilience and McLaren’s upgraded car, now proving competitive with Ferrari, offer a promising outlook for the team. As Stella noted, “The car is competitive… encouraging for the remainder of the season.” With only a few races left, Norris and McLaren remain firmly in the hunt, determined to turn their competitive edge into race-winning results.
