Since 2023, Italian Andrea Stella has taken the helm as the new team boss of McLaren. The team boasts a long and successful history in Formula 1, but recent seasons have seen a decline from its glory days. As team boss, Stella has the challenging task of restoring the team’s former glory.
Stella is no stranger to the sport. His F1 career began in 1997 as a performance engineer at Ferrari. There, he was part of the golden era of Michael Schumacher, who clinched the world championship five times in a row with Scuderia. Stella also contributed to Kimi Räikkönen’s 2007 title and the constructor’s championship in 2008, the last championships Ferrari has won to date. A year later, Stella became the race engineer for Fernando Alonso, who narrowly missed the title twice during his tenure at Ferrari.
The bond between Stella and Alonso was so strong that when Alonso switched to McLaren in 2015, he brought Stella along. At McLaren, Stella experienced a challenging period as the team struggled with the Honda engine. It was during this time that Alonso made the infamous statement that it felt like a ‘GP2-engine’. Despite these difficulties, Stella distinguished himself within the team. In 2018, he was promoted to performance director. Alonso left at the end of that year, but Stella stayed on and was promoted to racing director. In this role, he was part of the management team led by team boss Andreas Seidl, who brought McLaren back to the top of the midfield in Formula 1.
Stella’s Ascension to McLaren Team Boss
When Seidl decided to move to Sauber Audi at the end of 2022, Stella was the logical successor. CEO Zak Brown lauded Stella as “an immensely talented and experienced member of our team,” stating that his appointment “demonstrates the strength of McLaren at all levels as a team.” Stella himself expressed that it was “a privilege” to become McLaren’s team boss. However, he also emphasized his realism about the challenges ahead. “We know how much work we still have to do to get further up the grid. I look forward to making this journey together with this dedicated and talented team,” said Stella.
A Modest Personality
Within the team, Stella is known as a calm and modest personality, adept at listening and communicating with his colleagues and drivers. He has a passion for technology and innovation, but also for the human aspect of the sport. For him, it’s important to create a culture where everyone feels valued and motivated. He also has a good relationship with McLaren’s current drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Both have frequently expressed great respect for his knowledge and experience.
Stella’s Ambition for McLaren
Stella’s goal is to get McLaren back in the running for victories and titles in Formula 1. He hopes to build on the work of Seidl, who led the team to a third-place finish in 2021. According to Stella, the new 2022 regulations provide a solution. These aerodynamic rules are intended to bring more equality and excitement to the sport, and Stella wants to capitalize on this. Stella believes McLaren can close the gap to Mercedes. He also sees opportunities to stay ahead of other strong teams, such as Alpine and Aston Martin. The start of this year was difficult for McLaren. Nevertheless, the team has managed to recover and secure several podiums.
Stella’s Potential Impact on McLaren’s Future
Whether Stella is the man to bring McLaren back to the top remains to be seen. However, the performances in the first half of the season at least show that the potential is there.
