According to Andrea Stella, two key moments helped Lando Norris mature into a Formula 1 world champion – which learning phases led the Brit to the top?
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella sees two key moments that paved the way for Lando Norris to win his first Formula 1 world championship title. The Briton prevailed over Max Verstappen in the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Third place was enough to secure the title with a two-point lead.
However, Stella explains that the triumph was not solely the result of a strong year. Two phases in particular had a lasting impact on Norris.
He cites the direct duel with Verstappen last year and his handling of the difficult first races of the 2025 season, in which he struggled with a car that was difficult to drive and at times fell behind his teammate Oscar Piastri.
Stella: Norris’ confidence in himself is the key
“He definitely learned a lot from last year’s mission, even though it didn’t go all the way to the last race,” says Stella. “There were some learning moments, like in Austria. That was tough. I think Lando raised his self-image, along the lines of, ‘I can compete with Max.’”
This newfound belief in his own strength was only the first boost. According to Stella, the second turning point came in the first half of the 2025 season, when Norris underwent a remarkably professional development process despite technical difficulties and setbacks.
“In my view, there was another important turning point that season: the way Lando responded to the difficulties at the start of the season,” he explains. “That was the beginning of a structured, holistic process that encompassed personal development, professional driving, and racing craftsmanship.”
“And I’m particularly pleased that Lando was able to capitalize on that, because I haven’t seen anything like it in terms of the amount of work, the people involved, and the speed of development,” Stella summarizes.
McLaren duo handled setbacks well
Both Norris and Piastri have made tremendous progress this season in dealing with setbacks. He highlights two particularly bitter moments: the disqualification in Las Vegas and a strategically missed opportunity in Qatar.
“When we had to tell the drivers that we were disqualified, it was difficult because they had done their job, but we hadn’t. And they lost a lot of points.”
“It was similar in Qatar, accepting that we were in a moment where we could have done better strategically. But they never pointed the finger at the team,” recalls the McLaren team boss. For Stella, this maturing process is a key component of the team’s success in the world championship.
“There are so many aspects in which both drivers have grown,” he emphasizes. “And it’s precisely this constant support from the team that’s not only what I’m most proud of, but also what I consider to be the most important factor in our overall success.”
