"For the whole team, for everyone at McLaren, when you work here and see one of your drivers being linked to other teams, it's probably never an easy thing," assessed Norris. From my side, to get everyone here at McLaren having that bit more confidence in me – and it shows my confidence in the whole team – I think that's the most important thing, and the thing I'm happiest about with getting the contract out.
"They're now even more assured that I'm committed to the team, that I'm staying, and I've picked McLaren over Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, whatever team it could have been. They now have that reassurance. So I think it's more for them than for myself."
Norris understandably concedes that but for the remarkable turnaround in form last year, it is extremely unlikely he would have pledged his allegiance as early as he has, given he had an exceptionally lucrative contract that did not expire until the end of next year.
Since Stella was appointed team principal a year ago, there has been an astonishing transformation, not just on track but also behind the scenes. The team's new state-of-the-wind tunnel went online last year, while there is also a new simulator, and Stella has recruited significant names such as Rob Marshall and David Sanchez.