Just over a month ago, McLaren seemed unable to defend the F1 drivers' title, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri trailing Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli. But after a major upgrade at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Norris won back-to-back races and now sits just 83 points behind in the standings.

Team principal Andrea Stella credits Norris's improved form not just to the car, but to the driver himself. Stella highlights Norris's enhanced confidence and assertiveness, pointing to his bold overtake on Antonelli at Zandvoort as proof. He notes that Norris has also dominated the qualifying battle since the upgrade, out-pacing Piastri 12-1.

Stella emphasizes that Norris's growth is a mental shift—he now races with patience and self-belief, avoiding unnecessary fights and saving his energy for the right moments. This new approach, Stella says, has made Norris a more complete and dangerous competitor than ever before.