Pressure rises at McLaren as Norris and Stella clash ahead of Mexican Grand Prix – Tensions are running high at McLaren, with team principal Andrea Stella and driver Lando Norris openly expressing their frustration after qualifying third for the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix.
With Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz securing pole and championship leader Max Verstappen looking increasingly unassailable, McLaren’s nerves are visibly fraying under the mounting pressure to remain competitive. This tension is evident in the subtle but pointed criticism exchanged between Stella and Norris, signalling the underlying discord within the team.
Frustration at McLaren: Pole loss and lingering tensions
Lando Norris’ third place on the grid may have been a respectable result, but McLaren had set their sights on pole position, and for Stella, the results fell short. The team boss attributed the missed opportunity to Norris’ qualifying mistakes, a statement that didn’t sit well with the British driver, who had his own criticisms of McLaren’s approach over the weekend.
Stella’s disappointment was evident in his post-qualifying analysis:
“Overall, I would say that the car was competitive in this qualifying and capable of taking pole position – even if Carlos [Sainz] raised the bar in the final practice session,” he said, pointing to Norris’ performance as the key factor.
“But if we look at the natural progression [of lap times], we should have been there with Lando.”
Stella pinpointed Norris’ Q3 mistakes as a critical reason for the shortfall, emphasising that these mistakes led to overheating and tyre degradation.
“The two laps in Q3 were not good.The first one had several mistakes that caused the tyres to overheat,” added Stella. Norris’ struggle to find a perfect lap cost McLaren the chance to capitalise on what Stella saw as a strong contender for pole position.
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Norris’ Q3 struggles: “power oversteer” and missed opportunities
Norris’ qualifying laps in Q3 were marred by mistakes and technical challenges.On his first lap, he braked too early in Turn 1 and hit the baguette kerbstone, with further oversteer problems on the exit of Turn 3 and a power oversteer in the double right-hand corner of Turn 6. This sequence of mistakes resulted in worn rear tyres and additional time lost in turn 10. The 1Ž16.937 lap time was six tenths slower than his Q2 performance, a noticeable shortfall.
Reflecting on his second Q3 lap, Stella acknowledged some improvement, but still saw room for criticism.
“The second lap wasn’t very clean either, but it was important enough to secure the first or second row,” he said. That lap, clocked at 1:16.260, earned Norris third place on the grid, but left McLaren wanting in terms of execution.
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Was Norris driving at or below his limit?
Norris’ performance on the second lap of Q3 looked cleaner, but the lack of a slipstream as Nico Hulkenberg slowed in front of him affected his momentum. Although his rhythm improved from turns 1 to 3, he still lost some time at the exit of turn 3, an area where Ferrari were more precise.
In sector two, Norris showed flashes of brilliance, setting the absolute fastest time. However, minor mistakes in the stadium section of the third sector, where he took too much of the curb, slightly hampered his final time.
Despite these challenges, Norris didn’t seem visibly disheartened, showing no reaction to the announcement of his third place on the radio.
In post-qualifying interviews, Norris offered seemingly contradictory perspectives. In a press conference he said: “I was at the limit. I couldn’t go any faster”.
This sentiment suggests that he felt he had maximised the potential of his car.
However, in a later interview with Sky, Norris hinted that he might have been more cautious in his second attempt at Q3: “I tried in the first attempt in Q3, but it didn’t work. That’s why I had to drive a lot more under the limit in the second run.”
These mixed signals from Norris raise the question of whether his clean lap was the result of caution rather than precision, and suggest the possibility of untapped performance potential left on the table.
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Norris and McLaren frustrations spill over
Norris has not held back in voicing his frustration with McLaren, particularly over the disrupted practice sessions.
He missed the first session as Patricio “Pato” O’Ward took his place in the McLaren MCL38, a move he felt was detrimental. “Not a great day,” said Norris bluntly.
“I already missed the first session and then in the second session they came out with these alternative tyres. It made me feel like I was behind.”
This frustration with the disrupted practice schedule underlines Norris’ sense of unpreparedness and adds to the tension with Stella’s criticism of his qualifying performance.
Asked if McLaren’s latest update package was to blame, Norris made it clear that the car’s performance was in line with the team’s expectations, albeit marginally.
“If it was a three-tenth improvement, we’d be on pole right now,” he said, stressing that the update was not enough to provide a significant competitive advantage.
“We’re talking about small steps.”
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Different views on McLaren’s race potential
As the team looks ahead to the main event, Stella and Norris remain divided on McLaren’s chances in the race. Stella is cautiously optimistic, noting that while Ferrari outperformed them in the sprint race in Austin, the gap narrowed in the main event.
“Overall I would say our car is closer to Ferrari this weekend, so hopefully we can challenge for the win. And let’s not forget Max,” said Stella.
Norris, on the other hand, tempered expectations and acknowledged Ferrari’s dominant pace.
“Last weekend Ferrari were faster than us. Today we were not at their level,” he said, stressing the need for caution in the face of Ferrari’s apparent strength.
“But tomorrow will be a different day. Lap 1, turn 1, that’s our best chance,” he added, hinting at an aggressive approach in the early stages.
Despite their different perspectives, both Norris and Stella agree that Sunday’s race has the potential to be an exciting showdown. Fans can expect Norris to potentially challenge Verstappen early on, seeking redemption after their recent clashes.
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Looking ahead: Can McLaren rise above?
The 2024 season has been challenging for McLaren, and as the Mexican Grand Prix approaches, the team is grappling with both internal tensions and fierce external competition. The relationship between Norris and Stella underlines the pressure the team is under as they chase elusive points and try to catch the leaders.
Sunday’s race could prove pivotal for McLaren, not only in terms of championship points, but also in defining the team’s dynamic going forward.
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