McLaren issue F1 title fight prediction after Lando Norris setback

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has warned F1 may see a better version of Lando Norris emerge following his Dutch Grand Prix setback.

Norris appeared on course for a second-place finish at Zandvoort last weekend, crossing the line directly behind title rival Oscar Piastri.

However, what looked to be a seven-point loss in the championship battle quickly expanded to a 25-point gain in Piastri's favour after a power unit issue for Norris forced him to retire in the final laps.

Stella hailed Norris' approach to the difficult result and asserted he has the right mindset to bounce back from the incident.

“Lando has already proven in the message that he gave from the radio while he was still in the car, he has already proven that he is processing the situation,” Stella told media including RacingNews365.

“He kept immediately his constructive mindset. He said, ‘that’s just out of our control. It’s just a bad luck incident. Nothing we could do. We will keep fighting.’

“So he has already said it himself and I would be surprised otherwise.

“He’s a very mature person, a very fair and a very balanced driver.”

Norris is now facing an uphill battle to recover the points lost at Zandvoort, with Piastri holding a 34-point lead with nine grands prix remaining.

But Stella has predicted the title fight will become even more intriguing to witness as he backed an even stronger Norris to surface from the Dutch GP sting.

“We will give maximum support to make sure he is staying in the fighting spirit,” Stella said.

“But this will come very naturally, and if anything, we may see even a better version of Lando, because now is the time to extract, if there is anything more, even more out of his potential.

“So I look forward to seeing Lando in the coming races. I’m sure this is going to be a great spectacle for F1, and if anything, it’s going to make the competition with Oscar even more interesting.”