McLaren chief tells Lando Norris there's no need to change amid title fight

McLaren has informed Lando Norris that he need not alter his driving style in the ongoing Formula One championship contest against Red Bull's Max Verstappen, as stated by team principal Andrea Stella.

Norris, known for being his own toughest critic, expressed to the media prior to the Mexico City Grand Prix that he felt compelled to make adjustments in order to compete effectively with his championship-leading opponent.

Following Norris's second-place finish in Mexico, where Verstappen placed sixth and faced penalties for incidents involving the McLaren driver, Stella emphasized that Norris should continue with his current approach.

"Our discussions and internal assessments have consistently conveyed a clear message," the Italian remarked to the press.

"'Lando — we appreciate, endorse, and affirm your racing style. It is not your responsibility to seek retribution on the track,'" he added.

"'You should race in a fair and sporting manner, as you have been doing, while it is the role of the stewards to determine the appropriateness of any maneuvers. There is no need for desperation; you do not have to prove anything.'

"'Race fairly and squarely. This is our expectation for Lando, and it aligns with what he desires for himself.'"

Currently, Norris trails Verstappen by 47 points, with the latter remaining the clear frontrunner for a fourth consecutive title, given the significant gap with four races left in the season.

Despite rivals Ferrari making significant strides in the constructors' championship, with Carlos Sainz securing victory and Charles Leclerc finishing third, Stella found reasons for optimism following the race.

The Italian team is now only 29 points behind McLaren in the standings.

"Reflecting on the incidents during the early laps of the race, I feel a slight disappointment because, without those occurrences, I believe Lando could have contended for the win," Stella noted to reporters.

"Nevertheless, this is merely speculation. The key takeaway for me is that we have demonstrated the competitiveness of our car; the upgraded model appears to be on par with Ferrari at a circuit we initially thought would favor them.

"This is a positive sign as we move forward in the season."

SportsLigue