McLaren team principal Andrea Stella in awe of Lando Norris: “He absorbs the blame and points it at himself”

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 15, 2025, 01:57 IST

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Lando Norris, despite a frustrating sixth-place qualifying in Bahrain, impressed with a podium finish, showcasing his determination. McLaren's team principal, Andrea Stella, praises Norris's self-critical nature, contrasting him with other drivers who deflect blame. Norris acknowledges his self-doubt but recognizes it as a driver of his success, consistently securing podium finishes this season.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella in awe of Lando Norris: “He absorbs the blame and points it at himself”

Image credit: Lando Norris/Instagram

Lando Norris was visibly frustrated when he qualified sixth at the Bahrain Grand Prix and didn’t hold back any of his emotions while telling the media that he was “clueless” about what was happening. The 25-year-old McLaren driver is among the best this season, having clinched the season opener in Australia and a spot on the podium in all the following races. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella can’t praise him enough for how he takes all the blame on himself, even when the team also has its share when things don’t go as planned.

Andrea Stella is all praise for Lando Norris

Comparing Lando Norris to other F1 drivers and calling him very self-critical, Andrea Stella told Reuters, "Other champions in the past, might go on about the problem being elsewhere. It is something important that I admire about Lando, and which makes me very privileged and lucky as team principal, that he absorbs the blame and points it at himself. He raises his hand, absolving the team entirely; 'It was me, not the team.' Which is entirely inaccurate."
She acknowledged that it was the team that was responsible for a few technical things that didn’t go the right way, and they are working on them. "Lando is adapting to this. We are working together to fix it. Some other drivers as soon as there is a problem; 'Ah, the team.' Lando does not do that," she added.

Norris confirmed that it is how he is as a person. "Maybe sometimes I lack a bit of self-belief and I have done in the past, but that's just also me. It's the way I do things. It's the way I work. It's what has made me as good as I am,” he told the news agency.
Also Read: Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 race results: McLaren's Oscar Piastri seals 2nd win of the F1 season, Lando Norris snatches podium spot from Charles Leclerc
Norris did look dejected after ending up in sixth spot in the Qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix. But his determination on track was for all to see when he left many behind to steal the third spot from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the Sunday race. Till now, Norris has not lost out on a podium spot at any of the four races, including Australia, China, Japan, and Bahrain.

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