McLaren boss Andrea Stella has stressed that the onus is on the team to help Lando Norris reach the “incredibly high bar” that recent champions in Formula 1 have set.
Norris was embroiled in his maiden title fight last term, but he came up short in chasing down Max Verstappen as the Red Bull man sealed the deal with two rounds remaining.
Verstappen was able to protect the advantage that he built up during Red Bull’s dominant run in the opening stages, ending the season 64 points above his closest rival.
However, Norris recognised that he could have provided a greater challenge without the numerous mistakes that he and McLaren were made to rue over the season.
The Briton has declared that he is working on addressing the weaknesses that impacted his charge in 2024 as he strives to end Verstappen’s unbeaten run since 2021.
But Stella has reiterated that it is imperative that McLaren equips Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri with a title-calibre package from the outset in the upcoming campaign.
“With the drivers, we have to say that recently we have had [Lewis] Hamilton and Verstappen, the bar is incredibly high” Stella said.
“This requires the team to support the driver because Lando was unable been able to stay in the quest until the last race because we, as a team, did not provide him with a fast enough car at the start of the season.
“After we developed the Miami upgrade, pretty much he was on par with Verstappen in terms of points.”
McLaren revival down to the culture created
Norris did at least ensure that McLaren clinched the Constructors’ Championship as his win at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix saw it beat Ferrari to the crown.
The Woking-based squad had capitalised on Red Bull’s unexpected mid-season downturn to emerge as the benchmark team on the grid with an upgraded MCL38.
Stella has attributed the turnaround which took McLaren from being last after one race in 2023 to title winners the next season to the environment that’s been created.
“The team culture is a fundamental element to be able to maximise what you have available, but also to let the talent flourish and to allow the missed opportunities in particular, to be reviewed, to learn and grow,” the Italian, entering his third season at the helm, explained.
“It’s really difficult to capitalise without having a strong performance and also human culture.”
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