McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said Lando Norris has been showing increasing confidence, and that his growth as a driver is now being rewarded with results in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The reigning world champion won the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday at Zandvoort, starting from pole position. It was Norris's second consecutive victory and the 13th of his career, though the win required a fightback after he lost the lead to Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli at the restart.
Norris remains 83 points behind the championship leader, but has been closing the gap.
Stella on Norris's growing assertiveness
Stella told journalists at Zandvoort that Norris was definitely now showing a greater level of assertiveness.
He pointed to Norris's overtake on Antonelli as clear evidence of the shift in the driver's approach, saying the move to pass Antonelli was a very good demonstration of that, with Norris showing more confidence in himself.
Stella stressed, however, that confidence does not necessarily mean adopting a more aggressive approach in wheel-to-wheel battles. He explained that sometimes confidence means recognising that a fight is not worth entering because it risks losing, since the race is long and there will be another chance at the end.
Lessons from Hungary and Zandvoort
According to Stella, Norris has gained the confidence to forgo an immediate battle and instead bet on his ability to recover ground over the course of a race. He cited the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Dutch Grand Prix as examples, noting that in both events Norris lost the advantage of starting from pole but did not lose the confidence needed to still fight for victory.
Stella said assertiveness and confidence are probably the two traits Norris has developed the most from a non-technical, non-operational standpoint.
Adapting to a new generation of cars
Norris had previously spoken about the difficulty of driving the new generation of Formula 1 cars and the need to adapt his driving style. After the win in the Netherlands, he also stressed the importance of the driver even when working within the limitations of the car.
Stella agreed, saying Norris has been driving like a champion and constantly evolving. He said the process began in early 2025, when something changed in the driver's approach.
Stella said that approach has led Norris to continuous improvement, adding that it feels almost as if he is watching Norris get stronger race after race.
A tougher weekend for Piastri
While Norris rides a winning streak, his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri has now gone a full year without a race victory. The Australian's last win came at Zandvoort in August of the previous year, also from pole position.
Piastri finished the Dutch Grand Prix in sixth place, 32 seconds behind Norris. A slow pit stop also cost him a position during the race.
Stella said, however, that the result does not reflect Piastri's level of competitiveness across the weekend, which also included the sprint race.
