McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said the team was encouraged by Lando Norris's pace at the Belgian Grand Prix despite his seventh-place finish. Norris recovered from a 10-place grid penalty but lost a potential podium chance due to strategy.
Stella noted that Norris showed strong qualifying and race pace at Spa-Francorchamps. The car had the speed to contend for podiums based on what the team observed during the weekend.
Norris received the grid drop after fitting a new Mercedes battery. McLaren opted not to pit him under a virtual safety car, a choice Stella later said the team should have reconsidered in hindsight.
Team-mate Oscar Piastri finished fifth after sustaining damage in contact with Charles Leclerc at Turn 5. Both drivers voiced frustration over power unit energy management that affected qualifying positions at the energy-demanding track.
