Norris driving at 'world champion level' after reigniting 2026 title hopes
Summary
Andrea Stella believes Lando Norris is performing like a world champion after his Dutch GP win cut Kimi Antonelli's lead to 83 points, but questions remain over Oscar Piastri's race pace.
Lando Norris is driving at a 'world champion level' after back-to-back wins at the Dutch Grand Prix, says McLaren team principal Andrea Stella. The 26-year-old overhauled championship leader Kimi Antonelli at Zandvoort, following his victory in Hungary, and has trimmed the gap to 83 points.
Why it matters:
Norris's title defense is gaining momentum. The 83-point gap is smaller than the one Max Verstappen nearly overturned in 2025, and McLaren believes the championship is within reach.
The details:
- Stella told media including GPblog: "I think he's driving at the level of a world champion... I see Lando stronger and stronger race by race."
- He noted that something "clicked" after the start of the 2025 season, leading to continuous improvements.
- Norris's win was far from guaranteed, especially after a difficult sprint, but he delivered when it mattered.
- Piastri's question mark: Oscar Piastri finished sixth, 32 seconds behind Norris, after fading in the second stint. He was passed by both Ferraris, and Stella admitted a "question mark remains" over the Australian.
- Stella said both drivers have improved on tyre exploitation, but Piastri still needs to maximize performance in qualifying and race trim.
What's next:
With Norris closing the gap, the pressure shifts to Antonelli. If Norris continues this trajectory, the 2026 title fight could go down to the wire.
Original Article :https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/untitled-article-86586