Stella was previously a McLaren govt director however took over day-to-day working of the F1 squad following the winter departure of crew principal Andreas Seidl to Sauber.
Seidl stays extremely rated within the paddock, however Stella gained plaudits all through 2023 for overhauling the McLaren technical construction, which paved the best way for an aggressive run of upgrades that turned the MCL60 right into a automotive able to repeatedly placing stress on Pink Bull.
McLaren workers additionally just like the aspirational precedent that has been set, because the Italian engineer was promoted from inside to the highest job. Additionally they charge Stella as a really efficient communicator.
For these causes, Norris reckons there isn’t any higher candidate to steer McLaren. Requested by Motorsport.com whether or not the paddock was proper to be so gained over by Stella, he replied: “[I feel] precisely the identical.
“I did an interview the opposite day [in Abu Dhabi], and I simply mentioned massive because of him… I believe it isn’t all the pieces simply on him. You have to thank a number of different folks within the crew, as a result of they’re those who’ve achieved a number of the work.
“Andrea is simply the director of all of it. He is the producer of the set, and everybody else is the forged however you want everybody to work collectively very nicely. That is what they’re doing. So, he is achieved an incredible job. I am very, very proud of having him the place he’s.
“He nonetheless does quite a bit for the crew each single weekend by way of racing and qualifying and all of that. However I am unable to ask for a greater crew principal.”
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
Andrea Stella, Staff Principal, McLaren
On Stella’s watch, McLaren has made high-profile signings. Ferrari head of chassis David Sanchez was employed, whereas long-serving Pink Bull chief engineering officer Rob Marshall will formally begin work in Woking on 1 January 2024 because the engineering and design boss.
Subsequent 12 months’s automotive may even be the primary to achieve enter from the crew’s new on-site wind tunnel, which is able to keep away from renting and freighting check gadgets to the Toyota facility in Cologne.
These steps to enhance McLaren’s efficiency shall be key in convincing Norris to signal a brand new contract, with the Briton’s present paperwork resulting from expire on the finish of 2025.
The motive force added: “I am very excited… Now we have some new hirings… I am excited as a result of we’re lastly heading in the right direction and we all know which route to push.”
