McLaren outline critical factor for Norris title success

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has outlined the importance of delivering a car that is immediately competitive if it wishes to fight for the drivers' title this year.

The Woking-based squad launched the MCL39 earlier this week with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri conducting a shakedown from Silverstone.

McLaren enter the year as reigning contstructors' champions having edged out Ferrari last year - however it was Max Verstappen who sealed the drivers' championship with Norris forced to settle for second place.

Norris and McLaren only entered the title race after an upgrade at the Miami Grand Prix, by which time Verstappen had already established a healthy lead in the standings.

As McLaren target its first drivers' title in 17 years, Stella asserted it needs to be competitive from round one.

“I think there are two main takeaways from last season,” Stella told media including RacingNews365.

“The first one is that the main deficit of points in the championship between Lando and Max was accumulated at the start of the season. 

“So that’s my reference to the performance of the car, because if we go back to Bahrain we were probably the fourth best car at the time, until we upgraded the car in Miami. 

“From Miami onwards, the gap between Max and Lando has actually stayed quite consistent. 

“That’s the first takeaway. We do have to give Lando and Oscar a car that is competitive for podiums straight away.”

McLaren hail Norris growth during 2024 F1 title fight

Norris has vowed to deploy an “elbows out” approach to racing Verstappen this year as he targets his first title.

Stella commended the Briton's growth throughout his first full season fighting at the front of the field and believes he is now ready to become a champion.

“The second takeaway is that I’ve seen Lando grow through the season at a very fast rate,” he said.

“He was already an incredible driver and he showed it immediately in Miami, as soon as he had the car to win, he delivered.

“He’s been a very consistent driver. If we look at the number of podiums, and like I say, in terms of points scored, he scored as much as Max from Miami onwards. 

“But at the same time, the rate at which he has learned from any situation which gave us the possibility to grow as a team or as a driver, that’s been quite impressive. 

“If we take the battle on track with Max in Austria, the battle on track with Max in Austin, think how much he adapted and in Mexico immediately, he kind of knew what to do with Max.

“In a similar way, when it comes to driving, to using the tyres in a race, there’s a few examples. 

“For instance, Las Vegas - he changed the pace completely with the final set of tyres after we struggled so much with graining with the first two sets of tyres. 

“Learning very fast and definitely having all the qualities, the skills, the mindset to become a world champion.”