Norris showing more self-confidence, says Stella after Dutch GP win

ZANDVOORT: McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has observed Lando Norris exhibiting more self-confidence and believes this has been rewarded with his recent results. The reigning Formula One champion claimed victory in Sunday's Dutch Grand Prix from pole position, marking his second consecutive win and his 13th career triumph. However, he had to seize the lead after initially losing it at a restart when competing against Mercedes championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

Stella described Norris' maneuver to overtake Antonelli as a testament to his growing self-confidence and assertiveness on the track. The McLaren boss noted that confidence can sometimes be demonstrated by acknowledging one's limitations and trusting in the ability to overcome them, particularly in a long, grueling race like the Dutch Grand Prix.

Stella highlighted that assertiveness and self-confidence have been the two most significant areas in which Norris has shown improvement beyond technical and operational aspects. Norris has acknowledged the complexity of the new generation of cars and the need to adjust his driving style accordingly. He also credited himself for his performance in Sunday's race, emphasizing that individual skill and determination can still make a difference.

Stella agreed that Norris is driving with the confidence of a champion and has been consistently improving since early 2025, when he appears to have found his stride. Meanwhile, Australian teammate Oscar Piastri has gone a year without securing a race victory, finishing sixth in Sunday's race, 32 seconds behind Norris. Piastri's poor pitstop performance was a significant factor in his disappointing result, according to Stella, who maintained that it was not a fair representation of Piastri's true competitive capabilities during the sprint weekend.