Lando Norris secured a convincing victory at the recent Mexico City Grand Prix. With a significant lead over teammate Oscar Piastri, he also reclaimed the lead in the world championship. Where did this dominance – already evident during the first free practice sessions – suddenly come from? According to McLaren team boss Andrea Stella, Norris’s success was largely due to the characteristics of the circuit.
Starting from pole position, Lando Norris gave his team their first victory since the Zandvoort Grand Prix in August. Moreover, he capitalized on Oscar Piastri’s setback and is once again – albeit narrowly – the favorite for the title. After the race, team boss Andrea Stella tried to explain this feat. “These special conditions with limited grip are perfect for Norris’s driving style,” the Italian responded to the media in Mexico. “It provides a natural way to win lap times, which is almost the opposite of Oscar’s (Piastri) driving characteristics.”
Stella pointed out that Norris has delivered similar dominant performances in the past. “If we look at Lando’s recent years, we have also seen a weekend with this level of dominance on other circuits. Last year we saw it in Zandvoort, we saw it in Singapore. So it’s not the first time, I think, that Lando performs at this level. Here in Mexico, he was simply very convincing. I think he was the fastest in every session. He was able to take full advantage of the performance and power of the car.”
Heading into the Final Grands Prix with Confidence
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, with its high altitude and limited grip, caused many skids in the corners – something Norris actually capitalized on. Moreover, McLaren seems to have gained valuable insights from the Mexican race. “I believe the team is entering the final four races with a better understanding of how to consistently extract performance from the car,” Stella admitted. “Granted, in the few races before Mexico, we sometimes missed opportunities from the garage.”
Stella emphasized that the result is also important for Norris’s self-confidence and for the team’s preparation for the remaining races. “It will only boost his confidence – and that will be important for the final four Grands Prix. But I think both Lando and Oscar have plenty of reasons to approach these final races with confidence.” The difference between the two McLaren drivers is just one World Championship point. Max Verstappen is 36 points behind Norris.
