McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has expressed pride in the professional conduct of Formula One world champion Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri following the intense pressure of last season’s battle for the drivers’ championship. British driver Norris ultimately secured his maiden world title after a grueling three-way fight that included Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, a victory achieved despite Piastri holding a 34-point lead with only nine races remaining.
Throughout the previous campaign, McLaren’s commitment to allowing both drivers to race on equal terms was frequently tested, yet relations between the pair remained cordial. This stability is particularly notable given the current challenges facing the team; McLaren has struggled to match the pace of Mercedes and Ferrari under the new 2026 technical regulations.
Reflecting on this dynamic in a team Q&A, Stella noted, “It wasn’t a given that, after last year — when they found themselves battling for the world title right up to the final race — the harmony they’d built would remain intact: yet not only has this not changed, but the relationship between them and with the team has actually become even stronger.” He added that while Norris’s maturity was expected as the reigning champion, Piastri’s continued reliance on the team to accelerate his development has been equally impressive.
The current 2026 standings reflect a difficult season for McLaren. Mercedes teenage rising star Kimi Antonelli currently leads the championship, sitting 50 points clear of Ferrari’s seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Norris currently holds fifth place, trailing the leader by 91 points.
Despite the deficit, Norris secured his first victory of the season in Hungary prior to the summer break, fueling optimism within the garage. Stella remains focused on the remaining 12 races, noting, “If we can continue the season as we did in Budapest, I think we can still achieve a great deal. To do so, we must keep pushing with the development and ensure we outpace our rivals — who certainly aren’t standing still. There are still 12 races left on the calendar, so there are plenty of opportunities given that 546 points are up for grabs.”
