McLaren highlight key area for Norris to reach 'incredibly high' bar set by Hamilton and Verstappen

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has called on the wider team to ensure it can prevail in the drivers' title fight this year.

Lando Norris ended the 2024 season in the runner-up position, 63 points adrift of title-winner Max Verstappen, who clinched his fourth consecutive championship.

A bulk of the Dutchman's lead was generated in the early stages of the campaign before McLaren added pace to its car and became a consistent front-runner.

Norris is aiming to become the first driver other than Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to win the F1 title in nine years when he takes to the track this season.

However, Stella asserted the team has its own job to do if it wishes to see Norris succeed.

“With the drivers, we have to say that recently we have had [Lewis] Hamilton and [Max] Verstappen, the bar is incredibly high” Stella told media including RacingNews365.

“This requires the team to support the driver because Lando was unable been able to stay in the quest until the last race because we, as a team, did not provide him with a fast enough car at the start of the season.

“After we developed the Miami upgrade, pretty much he was on par with Verstappen in terms of points.”

McLaren enters the upcoming season having clinched the constructors' title for the first time in 26 years last December.

After enjoying a substantial turnaround in form across the last two seasons, Stella has put the achievements down to the values installed at the team.

“The team culture is a fundamental element to be able to maximise what you have available, but also to let the talent flourish and to allow the missed opportunities in particular, to be reviewed, to learn and grow,” he said.

“It’s really difficult to capitalise without having a strong performance and also human culture.”