Stella names key turning point that helped Norris beat Verstappen

The 54-year-old, who spoke in an interview with Motorsport Italia, highlighted how Norris has grown significantly, both personally and as a racing driver. Stella further emphasised his maturity, pointing to the duel at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix as pivotal to his championship success in 2025.

“Lando beat a four-time world champion: he's grown enormously, as a person and as a driver. You only learn to win by winning. The constant battles with your teammate, and with a bulldog like Max Verstappen, either make you grow quickly or crush you,” Stella explained.

“Lando's real turning point came last year, with crucial duels like the one in Austria. There, he truly began to believe he could battle Verstappen and beat him. He also learned to isolate himself from the outside noise. We made technical changes specifically to help him focus on driving,” Stella concluded.

Norris beat Verstappen to the 2025 drivers’ championship by two points following his podium finish at the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The British driver had finished behind the Red Bull Racing star in the 2024 season, where the pair were involved in several wheel-to-wheel battles, including the Austrian Grand Prix, where both drivers collided in the final stretch of the Spielberg race.

Earlier, 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve stressed his belief that the battles with Verstappen aided Norris’ development as a racing driver.

The 54-year-old also praised the strong performances Norris showed in the second half of the season after early struggles.

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