McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has observed a higher level of assertiveness in Lando Norris during the 2026 Formula 1 season. This assessment follows Norris’s recent back-to-back victories at the Hungarian and Dutch Grand Prix events. Stella’s comments highlight a notable shift in the reigning World Champion’s approach to racing.
Stella specifically cited Norris’s decisive overtake on Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli at the Dutch Grand Prix as a clear demonstration of this increased assertiveness. He noted that Norris is exhibiting a greater degree of self-confidence, which is not always expressed through aggression but sometimes through strategic patience.
Norris, the 2025 World Champion, began his title defense campaign in 2026 with an initially uncompetitive McLaren MCL40. The team struggled to match the pace of rivals Mercedes and Ferrari under the new 2026 regulations.
The MCL40, designed under Chief Designer Rob Marshall, received its first significant upgrade package in Miami. This development led to Norris securing a Sprint win and a 2-3 finish for McLaren in the main race.
Further substantial upgrades were introduced at the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 26, 2026. Norris converted pole position into his first Grand Prix victory of the season, finishing 15 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen. This marked McLaren’s 200th Grand Prix win.
The momentum continued into the Dutch Grand Prix on August 23, 2026. Norris again started from pole position and secured his second consecutive victory. He overcame an early red flag and a temporary loss of the lead to Kimi Antonelli, ultimately retaking the position on Lap 54 and winning by over 11 seconds.
Despite these recent successes, Norris currently sits fourth in the Drivers’ Championship with 159 points, trailing leader Kimi Antonelli by 83 points. Norris has acknowledged that while the MCL40 excels in high-speed corners, it lacks the consistent all-round performance needed to challenge Mercedes in low-speed sections.
McLaren’s technical director for applied engineering, Neil Houldey, previously stated that the launch version of the MCL40 provided a solid foundation but was not as quick as desired due to reduced development time compared to competitors. Stella maintains that McLaren and Norris can still contend for titles if the team continues its development trajectory.
