McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has conceded that poor pit stop strategy prevented Lando Norris from claiming what could have been his first victory at the Miami Grand Prix. The British driver fell victim to an undercut from rival Andrea Kimi Antonelli after McLaren delayed bringing him into the pits for too long during the crucial phase of the race.
Following the disappointing result, Norris expressed his frustration with the team’s tactical decision-making. “We just got undercut,” the McLaren driver stated bluntly. “There’s no excuses other than that. We got undercut, we should have boxed first.” His comments highlighted the missed opportunity that could have delivered a breakthrough win for both driver and team.
Stella acknowledged his team’s miscalculation and agreed with Norris’s assessment of the strategic blunder. “Probably [by] pitting earlier, he could have secured the lead position,” the Italian team boss admitted. “We will review that. There’s always opportunity when you go racing and it’s so tight.” The confession marked a rare public admission of tactical failure from the McLaren leadership.
Despite the setback, Stella emphasized that the team needs fundamental performance improvements rather than just better strategy execution. “I think for me the main takeaway, in addition to the operational review that we will always do, is that we need another couple of tenths in the car and then things will get a little easier,” he explained. “So that’s the main aim that we have to focus on.” The comments suggest McLaren recognizes that raw pace, not just tactical perfection, will be essential for future victories.