McLaren team principal Andrea Stella hailed Lando Norris’ Monaco Grand Prix victory as a sign of things to come for the 25-year-old driver. Norris secured his second win of the season, closing the gap in the drivers’ standings to teammate Oscar Piastri by just three points.
Norris, starting from pole position, overcame challenges posed by new regulations that required drivers to change tyres twice during the race. He held off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and finished ahead of him by a significant margin.
Stella attributed Norris’ success to his ability to remain calm and focused throughout the weekend, saying “cold blood” was essential for his victory. The team principal praised Norris for executing high standards and maintaining consistency, despite various situations that required tough decision-making during the race.
Norris’ win provided an answer to critics who questioned his ability to match Piastri’s performance over the course of the season. However, Stella played down the significance of Monaco as a turning point in the championship, saying both drivers will continue to improve throughout the season.
The team principal acknowledged that the journey with Norris is different from their counterpart with Oscar Piastri, and both drivers have distinct phases in their development. While this win can help solidify the work done with Norris, Stella expects both drivers to reach new heights over the course of the season.
Stella expressed hope that the talent within the McLaren team will flourish in the future, citing Piastri’s potential as a driver who can make an impact in Formula 1. Despite struggling with consistency in Monaco, Stella believes Oscar has the ability to stay focused and maintain speed, emphasizing the importance of championship-winning consistency over raw speed.
Source: https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/45326497/stella-norris-monaco-win-required-cold-blood