Lando Norris claim rubbished as McLaren F1 chief considers Max Verstappen move

28 September 2023 , 10:16

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McLaren boss Andrea Stella and Lando Norris (Image: Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Team principal Andrea Stella has admitted the prospect of McLaren competing with Red Bull is "still a step too far", despite driver Lando Norris claiming the team are "not miles away" heading into next season.

Red Bull secured constructors' championship glory at the Japanese Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen needs just three points to win a third consecutive F1 world title. And although Norris currently sits seventh in the driver's standings, he has picked up back-to-back second-place finishes in the last two races in Japan and Singapore.

With McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri joining him on the podium in Japan, Norris was left feeling optimistic about the team's future ahead of the 2024 season. Speaking on the team radio after crossing the finish line in Japan, Norris said: "Incredible job all weekend. Double podium! Two of us up there. We're coming. We're coming for Red Bull. Let's keep up the work!"

And when asked about his comments after the race, he added: "We're not miles away. We're beating one of them already, just not the faster one.

"To be where we are now, I didn't think any of us were expecting it or even thinking it at the beginning of the year. So we are definitely taking where we are, we are taking our podiums, and are taking our double podium.

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"But we know we still have a lot of things we can improve that we are going to improve and in such a short amount of time from the beginning of the year we have been able to turn things around massively and start to close the gap comparing to every other team to Red Bull.

"So, I think that's a good sign and it's only been one year of a good amount of progress and we know a lot of things to come. So I'm excited for the future."

Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri both earned podium finishes at the Japanese Grand Prix (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

However, Stella has been quick to downplay Norris' comments, claiming there are currently only "some tracks in which we could be competitive" with Red Bull. When asked how far off Red Bull he felt McLaren were, Stella replied: "Still a step too far.

"But in fairness, at the moment, it looks [as if] Max is one step too far. There's a variability of tracks left in the season, but none of these tracks has the Singapore characteristics.

"While there could be some tracks in which we could be competitive – I think Qatar should be a decent track for us – I'm afraid that the characteristics we like, they are also the characteristics where Red Bull will be just outstanding. So we'll have to be realistic that we'll need some situations to happen to be able to make the final step."

Matthew Cooper