Stella believes Norris has the makings of a Formula One champion, though he often views challenges pessimistically.
Currently second in the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship, Lando Norris reflected on the sidelines of the Zandvoort weekend that he had “made too many mistakes and lost too many points” to still beat Max Verstappen and claim his first world title this year.
Is the McLaren F1 driver too harsh on himself? In any case, his manager Andrea Stella has full confidence in him and praises the Briton’s continual self-assessment.
“The first thing I take from his comment is that it somewhat confirms his style. You know, he is quite self-critical. He sometimes tends to see the glass as half empty. In reality, I think he has the potential of a world champion and is performing at that level. If we compare ourselves to perfection, we certainly have opportunities. But I like that we compare ourselves to perfection, because that is what we need to do. I’ve been very encouraged by the fact that every small opportunity has been analyzed in great detail.”
“Lando has always been very open and transparent, as he is with the public and with the team, and we are together in trying to optimize every possible situation in which we need to perform better, based on our potential. We truly have the makings of a world champion. As with everything, Lando, Oscar, the entire team, every opportunity for improvement must be seized with the determination to get better.”
In the past, Andrea Stella has worked alongside legends such as Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. What is Norris still missing to match his illustrious predecessors?
“I don’t think in terms of driving, speed, race consistency, we are far off the mark. I think this year, we’ve had more opportunities in certain specific race situations, like the start, the first lap. Sometimes, we have lost time in the race, just in this initial phase of the event, the race, and then we’ve made up for it later with the pace we had. So, it’s quite specific and we’ve really been working to try to improve that.”
While Norris’s talent is beyond dispute, might he have a tendency to buckle under pressure too often?
“I believe I have already addressed this question. Lando definitely has the makings of a world champion. He is already achieving performance levels that I have seen in some of the great champions I’ve had the privilege to work with. He is on the right track, as is the entire team. And if we compare him to perfection, we see some opportunities. I have previously mentioned some of the opportunities that arise in the first lap, for example, and I have tried to find the balance between aggressiveness and staying out of situations or accidents. There is certainly something to be addressed at the start itself, which is not solely the driver’s responsibility, but also that of the team. And then I think there have been some situations in the races where he could have taken some of the responsibility, but I think it was the team’s responsibility.”
“For example, if I think about Canada, where we did not bring Lando in at the right time regarding the safety car, or if I think about Silverstone and the last stint, it’s the team’s responsibility. If the team had operated to higher standards, Lando would have accrued more points in the championship and, as a team, we certainly appreciate that. He puts some of the pressure on himself, but I have enough experience to say: ‘mate, don’t worry, it’s the team’s responsibility. Keep up the good work. Continue working to improve your own opportunities.’ But it’s clear that as a team, we still have a lot of work to do.”
Stella thus believes that McLaren F1 can still clinch both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in 2024.
“We are certainly not giving up. Numerically, from the standpoint of the drivers’ championship, it appears there is a significant gap to bridge. And we are chasing Max Verstappen, so it is certain he will not make it easy for us. But we are excited to be in this position. And Lando is certainly not in this position because someone helped him. He is here because he is performing exceedingly well. And that is something we should acknowledge and realize in terms of achievements, not just in terms of one, two, or three opportunities in a season where he could have done better. Because that is normal. And it is normal for every world champion, every season.”
There is no question of making Norris the number one driver for now.
Before the summer break, CEO Zak Brown suggested that Lando Norris might receive the full support of his team to potentially pursue the world title, which implied a possible sacrifice of Oscar Piastri at certain Grand Prix if the situation demands it. However, for Stella, this is not necessarily the approach McLaren F1 wants to take.
“I think when it comes to being number one, it’s not a good way to approach racing. For us, we prefer to approach races with fairness and integrity, and then we’ll see what emerges from this kind of approach. There are ten races left to go. I think for Lando to truly be in a position to win the world championship, he needs to continue to deliver very high-level performances. He needs to keep being fast. Then, you have to gain places on the track.”
“And if you earn your ranks, if you merit your position on the track by being fast and competitive, then we will assess, always with a concern for integrity and fairness, whether on certain occasions we need the team to take a specific direction in a decision, or if we want to have a conversation with Oscar and ask him, for example, ‘Oscar, would you be willing to do this to support Lando in his pursuit of the world championship?’ No one should be surprised. We should all be in agreement because, after all, we are pursuing and we are in quest of a drivers’ world championship as a team. There is no one going their own way while others must follow. So this is our style, and I don’t think it can necessarily be summed up simply by saying that we appoint a number one and work accordingly. I would like it to remain more nuanced as a team, and more on a case-by-case basis.”
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Norris’s Grit Praised Amid Self-Doubt Struggles Norris’s Grit Praised Amid Self-Doubt Struggles F1 2024 Norris’s Grit Praised Amid Self-Doubt Struggles
