Andrea Stella has tipped Lando Norris to go on a run of victories after a Monaco Grand Prix the McLaren boss described as “a very, very well managed and executed weekend”.
Norris had a dream weekend around the streets of Monte Carlo. Quick throughout practice and Qualifying, he nailed his final lap in Q3 to grab pole and then led for much of the race to seal his second victory of the season – as well as claiming the fastest lap.
It was close to perfect for the Brit, bar one lock-up into Sainte Devote on the opening lap that could have ended badly for Norris had he not reacted quickly enough to make the corner. But from there, he was imperious – as were the team.
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“I think Lando kept the high standards, the quality of execution and the lucidity that he has had throughout the weekend, I have to say. He was faster from Lap 1 in FP1 and he kept building, to capitalise on a pole position,” Stella said after the race.
2025 Monaco Grand Prix: Norris locks up into Turn 1 but fends off Leclerc to keep the lead on the race start
“And today, he went through various situations which required cold blood, I would say.
“So, I really think that Lando deserves to be praised for a very, very well managed and executed weekend. And I think this is just the start of many more coming in the future.”
While Norris remained calm throughout the race, there were some strategic calls to make – when to pit for the second time with the backmarkers difficult to negotiate and Charles Leclerc closing in, before the last few laps where Max Verstappen did everything to back Norris up into Leclerc.
But McLaren nailed every call to ensure Norris walked away with an emotional victory.
“The main stressful point for us came when Lando needed to go through the block of backmarkers for the second time. And we knew that that could have been a possibility for Ferrari to try an undercut with Leclerc.
“But I have to say the strategy team were sharp in recognising that that was a risk and then calling Lando in. And then the pitstop crew did a very good pitstop and we covered this attack from Leclerc.”
Norris and Piastri have extended McLaren’s lead in the Championship over Mercedes
Oscar Piastri backed Norris up with P3, although he never quite looked on the pace of his team mate this weekend. Nonetheless, his seventh straight podium ensures the Australian remains in the lead of the championship – albeit by just three points now.
The scene is set for a tight intra-team fight all the way to Abu Dhabi, with Max Verstappen not out of the reckoning either as he continues to be there or thereabouts for Red Bull.
“This year, unlike last year, Oscar struggled to keep the rhythm. At times, he struggled a bit with the car, especially with some nervousness of the car in low speed,” Stella explained.
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“And this is also why, even in Qualifying, it took him a little bit of time to build the proper speed and he stepped a little one step behind compared to the full potential that he could have expressed.
“So, more than the absolute speed, it’s the consistency of the speed that I think he missed throughout the weekend. I think there’s a few things that we need to review on Oscar’s side, but overall, a very positive weekend.
“We always say, with both Lando and Oscar, that championships are made of consistency. So, when you cannot be as fast as you want, stay there. Sometimes you will not be able to win, but stay there and this is ultimately what Oscar has been able to [do].”
2025 Monaco Grand Prix: Watch how Norris resists heavy pressure from Leclerc with the McLaren’s rear camera