F1 | McLaren principal Andrea Stella explains the performance gap between Norris and Piastri in Brazil. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella explains why Lando Norris has matured and is performing at his peak.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella analyzed the different states of mind and development of his drivers, noting that Oscar Piastri struggles on low-grip tracks and still needs to learn how to maximize tire performance, while Lando Norris, after the setback in the Netherlands, has gradually evolved to fully exploit his potential.

For over a month, one question has dominated discussions in the Formula 1 paddock: what caused the growing performance gap between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri? Understanding this is far from trivial, as it may provide insights into the decisive factors in the 2025 championship battle.

After qualifying at the Brazilian Grand Prix, which confirmed the trend seen in recent races, Stella provided a detailed analysis of McLaren’s internal dynamics, drawing a clear picture supported by the team’s data.

Piastri’s learning curve on low-grip tracks

Andrea Stella began by addressing the challenging phase Oscar Piastri is experiencing. He highlighted the low-grip conditions over the past three race weekends. Normally, grip increases gradually from Friday to Sunday, and earlier in the season, Oscar Piastri’s performance improved progressively throughout the weekend.

The rain in São Paulo between Friday and Saturday cleaned the track of rubber laid down during the first day of running, returning the asphalt to a ‘green’ state. “Lap times were significantly slower than Friday,” explained Stella. “It created a situation similar to Mexico and Austin, and in these unusual conditions, putting together a clean lap is much harder. It requires a specific driving technique, which Oscar is still consolidating. He needs a bit more time to exploit it naturally. The effect is amplified when, as today, track grip varies in every corner due to the wind — this is the same problem Lando experienced on his first flying lap in Q3.” – the former Ferrari team member explained.

“In Lando’s case, adapting to low-grip conditions comes more naturally, resulting in strong lap times,” Andrea Stella continued. “For some reason, in the past three race weekends, we’ve consistently encountered low-grip conditions, and simply putting on a set of soft tires is not enough. You need to manage the car while it slides, and Oscar is still learning this. However, we also know he learns very quickly.”

Norris’ evolution and maturity

Oscar Piastri’s difficulties coincided with an extremely positive phase for Norris. According to Andrea Stella, Lando’s growth was influenced not only by personal factors but also by technical developments that improved his understanding and connection with the MCL39. “We’re seeing a Lando who can fully exploit his driving potential,” Stella observed. “He has achieved full maturity and the resilience needed to compete at this level, especially with a world championship at stake. After the retirement in Zandvoort, there was no drama. He reacted perfectly, knowing he could do nothing but focus on the next race.”

“Technically, he has also worked hard. Early in the season, it wasn’t easy to understand how to manage the front tires, where their grip limit was, and how to recognize when the car began to oversteer. Lando took some time to find the right feeling, and in that phase, he was at a disadvantage compared to Oscar. These may seem like marginal aspects, but given today’s highly competitive Formula 1 environment, everything becomes crucial. And to conclude on Lando, his improvement hasn’t been sudden; it has been a gradual evolution, the results of which we are now seeing.”