Norris backed by McLaren chief for first Silverstone F1 win after victory in Austria

 

Fresh from a commanding win in Austria, Lando Norris heads into this weekend’s British Grand Prix with full backing from his McLaren team boss, Andrea Stella. The 25-year-old Brit held off teammate Oscar Piastri in a high-intensity battle over 70 laps at the Red Bull Ring to claim his second victory of the season and close the gap in the drivers’ standings. Norris now sits just 15 points behind Piastri, with 201 points to the Australian’s 216. Stella praised Norris for his mental strength and growth, especially after a tough outing in Canada. There, Norris had collided with Piastri in the closing laps and was forced to retire an incident McLaren called unacceptable but forgave as a misjudgement. The team’s support remained firm, and Norris responded with a pole position and near-flawless race to seal victory in Spielberg. “There’s absolutely no reason why Lando can’t win at Silverstone,” said Stella. “His talent, race craft, and current trajectory are all clear indicators. The win in Austria showed not just speed, but resilience after Canada.” The championship now appears to be shaping into a two-way battle between McLaren’s drivers, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen trailing by over 45 points. Stella emphasized that their focus is on team success, but acknowledged Norris has the momentum heading into one of the most emotional races of the calendar for him.

Lando Norris is returning home to Silverstone this week with hopes of claiming his first ever British Grand Prix win. The buzz around the circuit is massive, especially with the introduction of the dedicated “Landostand” three grandstands by Stowe corner reserved exclusively for Norris fans. With a 10,000-strong capacity already sold out, the support will be loud and loyal. Despite being one of the clear favourites for Sunday’s race, Norris insists he’s not feeling additional pressure. “There’s always pressure in Formula One. There was pressure to win in Austria and pressure to get pole on Saturday,” he said. “Silverstone doesn’t make it harder it actually makes me smile more when I wake up.” The home crowd advantage is a boost, but Norris maintains a focused mindset. “It’s the place I want to win more than anywhere else, but that doesn’t change my approach. I just want to enjoy every moment, every lap.” McLaren’s growing dominance in the 2025 season marked by back-to-back wins and front-row lockouts makes them the team to beat, and Norris’s redemption arc from the Canadian Grand Prix has only added to his momentum. As the championship picture tightens between him and Piastri, fans are eagerly watching how the dynamic unfolds between the teammates. With Silverstone representing not just a homecoming but a potential career milestone, Norris is determined to make it count. “The speed is there, and the results are coming,” said Stella. “We’re proud of how he bounced back. He’s racing with clarity and confidence.” Now all eyes turn to Silverstone where Norris could make British motorsport history with his first win on home soil.

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