McLaren Boss lauds “bit of a master” Lando Norris after P2 result at Imola

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella expressed admiration for Miami winner Lando Norris after his runner-up finish in the Imola Grand Prix. Norris crossed the finish line 0.725s behind race winner Max Verstappen.

Coming off a historic win at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, McLaren ace Lando Norris showcased his sublime form with a late charge on Verstappen, the reigning champion. The McLaren driver and his team capitalized on a strategic tire switch from hard to medium compounds, allowing Norris to close in on Verstappen’s Red Bull during the closing laps.

Despite his relentless pursuit, Norris was unable to surpass Verstappen, but his efforts earned him a well-deserved second place.

Verstappen, who started from pole position, built a comfortable lead in the early stages of the race, maintaining a mostly uneventful drive around the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. However, as the race progressed, Norris began to cut into this lead, providing a thrilling finish for fans.

Reflecting on the race, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella spoke to Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz about the team's strategy and Norris’ performance, saying:

"The tyres were interesting, definitely not as easy as we anticipated. We lost too much time in the first stint. We had too much rear degradation and we thought today it was more about watching the mirrors than watching ahead of us."

Stella highlighted the team's strategic play with tire management. She added:

"With the hards, after we initially saved the tyres, when Leclerc and Oscar were fighting each other, I think this initial investment paid dividend towards the end of the race.

"Lando had the best conditions of the tyres. In addition to the outright car pace, managing the tyres was an important factor. We have to say, Lando from his point of view has become a bit of a master."

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Lando Norris on whether he could have overtaken Max Verstappen

Norris’ ability to manage his tires effectively and maintain a competitive pace was crucial to his success at Imola. When asked if he could have overtaken Max Verstappen with a few more laps, Norris acknowledged the difficulty of the task. He said (via F1.com):

"63 laps is already many laps. Many times you can say 'one lap more'. Also, it's Max Verstappen. I'm sure he was a bit in trouble but he managed to get the most out of what he had."

Lando Norris also expressed his satisfaction with the team's overall performance, giving credit to his teammate Oscar Piastri despite a setback.

"Well done to Max and well done to our two drivers," said Lando. "Oscar paid for the issue we had yesterday, otherwise, he would have been on the podium as well. We take this positive and look forward with some optimism now."

After seven races, Max Verstappen leads the F1 Drivers' standings, having won five. He has 161 points to his name. Lando Norris, on the other hand, has 101 points as he finds himself in fourth position.