August 23, 2024, 10:31 AM
Lando Norris has the quality to be a Formula One world champion and McLaren is to blame for some of his mistakes, team boss Andrea Stella said on Friday in response to the driver's self-criticism.
Norris told reporters upon arriving at the Dutch Grand Prix that he didn't feel he was at world champion level.
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The 24-year-old Briton is second in the drivers' standings but 78 points behind Red Bull's three-time world champion Max Verstappen with 10 races remaining.
Stella said Norris was driven by perfection and had a tendency to see the glass as half empty, but that it was normal for even the champion to have races where they could have done better.
“In fact, I think he definitely has the qualities to be a world champion and perform at world championship level,” said the Italian, who previously worked alongside Ferrari greats Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.
“Lando is undoubtedly a world champion. He is already performing at the same level as some of the great champions I have had the good fortune to work with.”
“He can win a world championship. That's a statement written in capital letters.”
Lando Norris in the paddock ahead of Friday's practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix. Clive Lowes/Getty Images
Stella said Norris was particularly responsible for his decisions in Canada and Silverstone and that the team really should be blaming themselves.
“If the team had operated to a higher standard, Lando would have scored more points in the championship,” asserted the Italian.
“As a team, I appreciate him putting pressure on himself and putting his hand up and saying it's my fault, but I think I have enough experience to say, 'Don't worry, it's the team's fault, just keep doing a good job and keep trying to take advantage of your opportunities.'”
“But we certainly have a lot of work to do as a team.”
McLaren is second in the constructors' standings, 42 points behind Red Bull.
“Numerically, from a drivers' championship point of view, it looks like there's a big gap to close and we're chasing Max Verstappen so he's certainly not going to make it easy for us,” he said.
“But we're excited to be in this position. And Lando is certainly not in this position because somebody helped him. Lando is in this position because he's performing very strongly. And that's something we have to acknowledge and understand.”
