McLaren team principal Andrea Stella praised Lando Norris’s character as the Briton bounced back from a collision and race retirement in Canada to lead home a McLaren one-two at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Italian said Norris still needed “to polish a few things” to become the finished article, however, in a Formula One season that is turning into a two-horse drivers’ title chase with team mate Oscar Piastri.
Norris had to fend off the Australian to set up Sunday’s victory two weeks after his clash with his team mate forced him out in Montreal.
“The outcome (in Canada) was unfortunate because Lando could not finish the race. That was simply a misjudgement. The way Lando handled that, I think showed the character,” said Stella.
“The speed is there — Lando pole position in Monaco… he was the faster car in Canada, pole position in Austria.
“We just have to polish a few things in executions and results which is what Lando demonstrated today. So, very proud of Lando, very proud of how everyone handled the situation in Canada and the fact we end up united and stronger.”
The runaway constructors’ championship leaders avoided another on-track accident, with Piastri delivering a mea culpa over team radio after the chequered flag following a near collision.
“There was only one situation where the two cars ended up a little too close and that was in turn four when Oscar locked up and he ended up very close to Lando,” said Stella.
“We gave Oscar this feedback and I want to acknowledge that I am proud of Oscar. As soon as he crossed the finish line he went on the radio and he said sorry for the situation in turn four.
“I am so refreshed by how the team reviewed the situation in Canada. We have come out stronger and even more united.”
Norris’s win cut the gap to Piastri at the top of the drivers’ standings to 15 points ahead of a home British race next weekend.
Norris, seven times a race winner, has yet to take back-to-back wins in the same F1 season but Stella expects him to rectify that.
“In terms of Lando being able to do so, yes, of course,” he said. “There is absolutely no reason why not — the talent, the quality, the race craft and even the trajectory Lando is in.
“The most important thing is the back-to-back victory is for McLaren.”
Meanwhile, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said the 2025 Formula One season was turning into a two-horse race between the McLaren drivers after his team had a home Austrian Grand Prix to forget on Sunday.
Defending champion Verstappen retired on the first lap after being driven into by Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, while team mate Yuki Tsunoda finished last.
“The buffer they have is significant. It looks very much like a two-horse race. They (McLaren) have got a cushion to the rest of the field,” said Horner.
“For us, we focus one race at a time. We don’t even think about championships. We just focus on the next race at Silverstone, what can we achieve there; same with Spa, same with Budapest.
“You try to grab every opportunity like we did in Imola (where Verstappen won).”
Agencies
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