Lando Norris, the reigning world champion, is operating at the peak of his abilities, according to McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, following his dominant win at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The British driver secured his team's first victory of the season on Sunday at the Hungaroring, a circuit known for its demanding corners, showcasing what Stella described as a stronger psychological approach to racing.
Norris's commanding performance saw him outpace Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who finished second, and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who came in third. While McLaren introduced several effective upgrades for the Hungarian race, Stella emphasised Norris's personal growth since clinching his first title last year. "He hasn't really had the machinery to show it so far, but he showed it today," Stella commented, noting Norris's increased confidence and improved ability to utilise his driving skills. He also pointed to Norris being "much more in control of his emotions" as a crucial development.
The race itself provided a clear example of Norris's maturing approach. Despite briefly dropping a position to his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, in the opening corners, Norris maintained his composure. Stella admired how Norris handled the situation, stating, "When he was behind Oscar, he said a couple of times that he had pace in hand, but he didn’t get frustrated." This calm demeanour allowed him to deploy his speed effectively at the opportune moment, ultimately leading to his victory. Stella concluded, "We’ve seen a great trajectory of development for Lando."
Meanwhile, Mercedes driver George Russell endured another frustrating race, finishing seventh after a technical problem on the grid led to a slow start. Russell, who dropped to 20th before recovering, is now 59 points behind his teammate and championship leader, Kimi Antonelli. Following a series of car issues this season, Russell expressed his growing exasperation with the recurring problems that have cost him valuable points.
"I’m past the point of disappointment now, because if I’m continuing to be disappointed with everything that goes on, I’ll just be disappointed every day of the week," Russell stated. He added, "It’s just unbelievable, the list of things that’s happened this season. It does feel like it is happening substantially more to me than others and hopefully it swings around. I don’t wish any bad luck on anyone, but I’ve never had a season like this in my whole career, let alone my F1 career."