Andrea Stella, the Team Principal of McLaren, celebrates alongside Lando Norris, the race winner, on the podium at the Miami Grand Prix. This event took place on May 5, 2024, as part of the Formula 1 World Championship, specifically Round 6. The location of the race was Miami, Florida, USA.
After securing his first victory at the Miami Grand Prix, Lando Norris is confident that McLaren can compete for both Formula 1 World Championships in the upcoming season. During the race, Norris made a strategic pit stop while benefiting from a Safety Car period, allowing him to maintain his lead and ultimately end his winless streak of 109 races. Looking ahead, Norris believes that McLaren has the potential to win more races and potentially even championships before the regulations change in 2026.
When asked about the possibility of a championship bid in 2025, Norris expressed his belief in McLaren’s chances, stating, “100%. But I’m saying that with a realistic perspective.” He acknowledges the strength of McLaren’s driver lineup and the support of an exceptional team. Norris emphasizes the unity within the team, stating, “We have an incredible team supporting us, and we are closer than ever.” Despite his confidence, Norris recognizes that there is still much work to be done and that the team is fully committed to achieving their goals.
McLaren’s slow start to the previous season led to speculation that Norris might consider moving to another team, with Red Bull showing interest in his services. However, Norris remained optimistic that his team could become contenders again and believes that his breakthrough win has proven his confidence to be justified. He stated, “I had a feeling that we could achieve what we did this weekend, and I believe we can do it many more times this year. Seeing how much it means to my team, it means just as much to me. I want to continue winning races and championships together with them. That’s our plan.”
Despite the joy of his victory, Norris insists that neither he nor his team is satisfied and believes that there will be more opportunities to replicate his success in 2024. When asked if he can hope for more wins this season, Norris responded, “Absolutely. We can win more races this year. I believe we can compete against Red Bull. It’s going to be an exciting season between us, Red Bull, and Ferrari. However, we still have work to do. We haven’t reached their level just yet. While we may be competitive in some races, on average, we’re not where we want to be. We’re staying grounded and aware that there’s more work to be done. Once everyone has had their celebration, I’ll tell them to get back to work so we can keep fighting.”
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella believes that Norris’ victory in Miami will relieve the pressure on him and help him perform even better. When asked about Stella’s assessment, Norris explained that this win gives him even more confidence and desire, but he remains the same person. He stated, “I’m still me, the same person. I believed at the beginning of the year that we could win races, and we have; we won the first one. So, I have faith. I have confidence that we can do it as a team, and we’ve proven just that. Maybe some things have changed, there’s something inside that’s different because now I’m a race winner. But my approach to things hasn’t changed. I’m still the same guy, and I want to win even more. It just fuels my hunger for victory more than ever before.”