As the 2023 Formula 1 season reached its conclusion, Lando Norris found himself reflecting on the journey that solidified McLaren as a force to be reckoned with on the track. Especially after the major mid-season upgrade to the MCL60 in Austria. Paired with the rookie sensation Oscar Piastri, Norris’s performance under the guidance of Team Principal Andrea Stella has been nothing short of stellar.

The duo, which has been labeled by pundits as one of F1’s most thrilling driver combinations, showed great character on track in the latter half of the season with Andrea Stella at the helm. The remarkable performances by the British-Aussie driver pair helped McLaren secure P4 in the championship ahead of Aston Martin.

Lando Norris praises Andrea Stella for his stellar leadership

When Andrea Stella took the reins as Team Principal in December 2022, the driver lineup at McLaren had already been set. However, the unique combination of Lando Norris as the team’s senior driver for the first time and Oscar Piastri as the rookie provided an opportunity for Andrea to cement McLaren’s position as the best of the rest after the top 3 teams in Formula 1.

According to Motorsport-Total.com, the British driver shared his sentiments, “Andrea [Stella] is simply the director of the whole thing. He is the producer on the set, and everyone else is the actor, but you have to work very well with everyone. And that’s exactly what they’re doing.”

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Since the first major upgrade to Norris’ MCL60 ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, the British driver secured points in 13 out of the last 14 races, with the only exception being Las Vegas where he crashed out.

Reflecting on his season, Norris expressed profound gratitude for Stella’s stewardship. “He’s really done a great job. I’m very, very happy to have him where he is. He continues to do a lot for the team every weekend as far as racing, qualifying, and as far as all of that goes, I couldn’t ask for a better team boss,” Norris added with genuine appreciation.

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One of the best performances from Lando Norris came at the Mexico City Grand Prix where he climbed from 18th all the way to a 5th place finish, and Andrea Stella was the first to praise the Brit for his epic drive.

Andrea Stella compared Lando Norris’ drive in Mexico to Alonso’s recovery driver in Valencia

The Mexico City Grand Prix witnessed a remarkable 13-position climb by Lando Norris. It was a drive that not only secured crucial points but also drew comparisons to a memorable performance by Fernando Alonso.

Stella, who had worked with Alonso during his Ferrari days, couldn’t help but draw parallels. “That was one of the best driver performances I have ever seen from any of the drivers I’ve worked with. It reminded me of Valencia 2012 [Alonso],” Stella remarked according to The Race, recalling the iconic race where Alonso overcame challenges to win in front of his home crowd.

Stella also shared the sentiment of Norris’s race engineer, Will Joseph, stating, “His race engineer Will Joseph turned to me and said to me that’s one of the best of Lando. I said, Will, that’s one of the best at all… One of the best races for a driver that I’ve been part of.”

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What are your thoughts on Lando Norris’s tribute to Andrea Stella? Share your reactions in the comments below.