McLaren team boss Andrea Stella believes Lando Norris has made a significant advancement in connecting with his car, evident by his pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula 1.
During the qualifying session at the technical street circuit, Norris outpaced Charles Leclerc from Ferrari by one tenth, with his teammate Oscar Piastri following 0.175s behind. This marked Norris’ second pole position in the 2025 season.
Previously, Norris had struggled to maximize the performance of McLaren’s MCL39 in qualifying, admitting difficulty in predicting the car’s reactions. However, his pole in Monaco is seen as a breakthrough, reflecting the collaborative efforts between Norris and McLaren’s engineers.
Stella emphasized the importance of this progress not only for Norris but also for Piastri. The team’s continuous refinement in car setup led to Norris maintaining his pace and consistency, showcasing genuine improvement.
Looking ahead, Stella expressed optimism for further enhancements to make the McLaren car more predictable on the edge, acknowledging room for growth with both Norris and Piastri in future races.
