McLaren urges Norris not to 'take justice into his own hands' against Verstappen

Lando Norris is in an unprecedented situation at the end of the 2024 season. For the first time in his career, the Briton is fully engaged in the title race: with four Grands Prix remaining, he is 47 points behind the leader, who is none other than Max Verstappen. One of his best friends, who gradually turns into one of his toughest rivals.

The two men have already been in contact this season, notably in Austria, before meeting again on track in Austin and then in Mexico. During these last two rounds, the Dutchman came to take the Englishman off the track, with very different consequences. In the United States, it was the driver McLaren who was given a 5-second penalty for overtaking his opponent outside the track limits. In Mexico, it's the opposite: it's the driver Red Bull who received two 10-second penalties for his two controversial maneuvers on his runner-up in the championship.

Faced with the sometimes excessive aggressiveness of his opponent on the track, Lando Norris suggested, ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, changing certain things in his driving style to compete at the same level as Max Verstappen. “There are always things to improve, slight adjustments to make here and there. Max is the best, especially in this style of defense and attack. I am facing the best in the world and I have to be at his level, he had declared then. I want to be the one who comes out on top. [Austin's] penalty changed the game. I'm going to change my approach a little bit, but I don't need to change everything."

Norris " does not need to prove anything", Stella recalls

A desire that is not at all shared by McLaren and its Team Principal, Andrea Stella. According to the Italian manager, Lando Norris would run greater risks if he had to change anything in his way of driving and defending (or attacking) against Max Verstappen, and recalls that the Briton must trust the race direction in the event of a dispute despite the painful episode in Austin.

“Our internal conversations have always been very clear: Lando, we love, we approve, we confirm the way he races, assures Andrea Stella. It is not up to him to try to take justice into his own hands. He must participate in the race in a fair and sporting manner, as he already does, and it is the stewards who will say whether certain manoeuvres are correct or not. He doesn't have to be desperate, but he doesn't have to prove anything. He runs fair and square. That's what we expect from Lando, that's what Lando expects from himself."

After the Mexican Grand Prix and his driver's 2nd place, Andrea Stella appeared satisfied and relieved to see that the developments made by McLaren, including a new floor, had given satisfaction. With, however, some regrets regarding the start of the race and the fight between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen…

“When I look at the incidents in the first laps of the race, there is a bit of disappointment because without those two incidents I think Lando could have fought for the win, believes the Italian leader. But with ifs… For me, the important fact is that the car is competitive. The evolved car now seems to be up to par with Classic Ferrari for sale on a circuit that we thought was more in their favor."

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