In the aftermath of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, McLaren boss Andrea Stella has come to the defense of Lando Norris mistakes which affected his performance during the race, sparking a wave of criticism.
Norris, who had shown promise throughout the weekend by securing pole position and winning the sprint race ultimately finished sixth in the main event, significantly hampering his championship hopes against Max Verstappen.
The result has raised questions about his decision-making and ability to capitalize on opportunities, particularly as he now trails Verstappen by 62 points in the current F1 World Championship standings with only three races remaining in the season.
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix unfolded with high expectations for Lando Norris especially after a strong showing in the sprint race where he demonstrated his speed and strategic acumen. However, during the main race, a series of unfortunate events—including a poor start that saw him drop behind George Russell—complicated his chances.
Despite initially holding second place and appearing poised for a potential victory, the McLaren star’s fortunes changed dramatically due to a poorly timed red flag that disrupted his race strategy. This incident allowed Verstappen and two Alpine drivers to gain crucial track position, effectively derailing his bid for a win.
READ ALSO : Errors that denied Lando Norris a win at Sao Paulo Grand Prix
Critics have pointed to Lando Norris’ mistakes throughout the season as contributing factors to his current predicament. Some observers argue that he has been unable to maintain consistency despite having a superior car compared to Verstappen for much of the year.
In response to these criticisms, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has labeled them as “unfair,” highlighting that both Norris and the team have made significant progress this season.
“I think this is not a fair statement about Lando, as I said before,” Stella told Sky Sports Germany after the race.
“First of all, I would like to acknowledge that Max is now the bigger favourite for the championship and he was already the favourite before. You have to be honest about that. He is a fantastic driver. He does a fantastic job.
“Lando is just behind him. We are proud where we are. I think Lando should be very proud of his performance and in a race like today, that can happen. It can happen that you have problems here and there. We managed to stay in the race. We will learn from it and we will become stronger and stronger.
“The dream lives for the season. Overall, we had such a great development this season and we are now taking the lesson from it. If we don’t win this year, we will come back stronger next year.”
Lando Norris himself has reflected on his performance at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix with a mix of frustration and determination. He recognizes that while he made some mistakes, he remains committed to improving and learning from each race.
“We weren’t quick enough,” he admitted after the race. “Max was easily quicker than us. I think if he went from the front, he probably would have lapped us.
“Pace was good. I think similar to George, but the Red Bull was way faster. It’s been quite a day, not a lot more I can do.
“I probably finished third, realistically. It’s tough. Max probably would have come through anyway and probably beaten us.
“Yeah, just unlucky for us, but nothing more than that. I made a couple of mistakes, which I didn’t have to, and it cost me a couple of positions in the end.”
The narrative surrounding Lando Norris’ performance has been compounded by comparisons with Max Verstappen, who has consistently demonstrated an ability to capitalize on opportunities—even when starting from unfavorable positions.
Verstappen started from 17th to ultimately claim victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, further solidifying his status as the championship frontrunner and underscored the challenges facing Norris as he seeks to close the gap in points.
As McLaren navigates this critical phase of the season, team dynamics will play an essential role in their success. The relationship between Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri has been highlighted as a positive aspect of McLaren’s strategy.
Piastri’s willingness to support Norris during races—such as ceding position during the sprint—demonstrates a collaborative spirit within the team that could prove advantageous as they head into the final races of 2024.
Looking ahead, both drivers will need to harness their strengths while minimizing errors if McLaren hopes to challenge for both individual and constructors’ championships.
