Lando Norris, the Formula 1 leader, did not hold back any criticism after the setbacks suffered in Bahrain during the weekend. However, McLaren’s director, Andrea Stella, came to his defense, arguing that the driver was being too hard on himself and taking blame that also belonged to the team.
Norris expressed feeling “disoriented on the track” after Saturday’s qualifying in Sakhir. After finishing third on Sunday, in a race won by his teammate Oscar Piastri, he admitted to having made too many mistakes.
Every time he did something right, he did two things wrong somehow.
Lando Norris
The British driver, who currently leads Piastri by three points, added that something was not working between him and the car. “I can’t do any of the laps like I did last season. The car is incredible and that’s getting me out of a lot of trouble right now. But I’m not even close to my ability, and that hurts,” he commented.
Stella, for his part, highlighted Norris’s transparency, who does not hesitate to show his emotions. “It’s quite unique how visible and open he is,” said Stella, who worked with Michael Schumacher at Ferrari.
He is very self-critical. Other champions in the past might have talked about the problem being elsewhere. It’s something important that I admire about Lando, and that makes me feel very privileged and fortunate as team principal, that he takes the blame and attributes it to himself.
Andrea Stella
Stella explained that McLaren always shares the responsibility and that they are working to improve. “We understand what it is, it will just require a bit of adaptation on Lando’s part and some adaptations on the team’s part, but I think the understanding is good and we are very optimistic that this will be resolved,” he added.
Norris acknowledged being hard on himself, but explained that he has always worked like this and that it would be difficult for him not to show his feelings. “When I do my interviews, a lot of it is probably just to get out my frustration. It’s just for not achieving what I want to achieve,” he said.
When I know what I can do and what I am capable of, and I am not even close to achieving it… I disappoint myself a lot.
Lando Norris
The driver concluded by saying that he is happy with what he can do and achieve, and that he feels up to the best.
