McLaren team principal joined in the celebrations for Lando Norris’ victory in Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix, the first F1 win for the 24-year-old since his debut in the sport in 2019.
Norris benefitted from a perfectly timed safety car to make a late pit stop and keep the lead from pole winner Max Verstappen. But once the race restarted, it was Norris who stretched out a 7.612s lead in the remaining laps to the finish.
“We knew that the car was quick,” Stella told Sky Sports F1, although he admitted he hadn’t expected to be so far ahead of the Red Bull. “It’s a bit of a surprise, but we take it positively and we take it for the future as well.”
Norris had already been looking strong all weekend after being the recipient of a substantial package of upgrades to the MCL38, but was spun out Saturday’s Sprint race on the first lap.
There were no such mistakes or mishaps on Sunday, and the perfect strategy and race execution came together in the most perfect way imaginable for both the driver and the team.
Stella couldn’t be happier for Norris, whom he has supported over the years despite some criticism from some detractors about a lack of any wins in 109 races before this weekend in Miami.
“We always said that as soon as we give him the right material that he is going to make it – and he made it!” Stella said. “Most important is the first victory for Lando because he deserved it so much.
“For me, my thoughts are with the men and women at McLaren,” he added. Both he and his boss, McLaren CEO Zak Brown, were quick to dedicate this major step in the team’s renaissance to the memory of their former McLaren sporting director.
“This victory is for Gil de Ferran,” Stella stated, paying tribute to the former IndyCar racing driver and team owner – often referred to as one of the best drivers never to compete in F1 – who passed away suddenly over the winter.
Brown also wanted to share credit for the team’s success with the late McLaren part-owner Mansour Ojjeh, who died in 2021. “The car was really fast and I think Gil de Ferran and Mansour had something to do with today.
“Building up these Formula 1 teams doesn’t happen overnight,” he explained. “Coming out of where we were at the start of last year to where we are now is just amazing, and it has just been teamwork.
“A huge contribution from 1000-plus people back at McLaren,” he said. “I want to thank all the men and women that have worked so hard.” And of course, one of those was the man of the moment who had been at the wheel today.
“[All] the drivers went up to him to congratulate him,” Brown said of the rapturous reception Norris received when he arrived back in the paddock, from his rival drivers, other team personnel and the fans in the grandstand.
“This is long overdue, and this is a very popular win amongst the fans and the drivers,” he acknowledged.
Norris himself was to repay the fulsome comments of Stella and Brown and thanked them for their belief in him even through this win had been tantalisingly out of reach for so long.
“I stuck with McLaren because I could believe in them, and I did believe in them, and today proved exactly that,” Norris said, adding: “This is all for the team.”
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