F1 News: Andrea Stella Makes McLaren Ditch “Comfort Zone” to Double Down on Performance for 2024

At the start of the 2023 season, McLaren was a midfield team at best. However, toward the end, the Papaya team became a force to be reckoned with. What was the biggest change in the team in 2023? Well, there were two. One was the obvious acquisition of Oscar Piastri, but the other that made the most difference perhaps was the promotion of Andrea Stella. After a recent revelation and a dive into the psyche of the Italian boss, we know why the Woking outfit has become phenomenal.

Stella’s approach and leadership are the difference maker, as he has been running a tight shift in Woking. Under his leadership, the team not only gained a massive position in the championship but now they have hope for 2024. While speaking to Motorsport-Total, the McLaren TP revealed his approach and we can understand how it’s making a difference.

“I won’t say we have to be first, second, or third, because we don’t think that way internally at McLaren,” explains Stella. “At McLaren, we focus on how we can improve the aerodynamics, mechanics, and tire behavior. The results will then come naturally.” (Translated via Google)

“There’s one thing I keep telling my leadership team: plans are really good, but we’re not here to make plans, we’re here to put performance on track. Plans can easily lead to a comfort zone. My approach to plans, therefore, is to look at them as a tool, not as a goal. At the end of the day, it’s all about performance,” he concluded. 

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This relentless approach from the Italian is exactly what has propelled McLaren to the top and made them competitive. The current run of form by the Woking outfit is not possible without Stella and even the CEO is not oblivious to the fact.

Zak Brown levies huge credit to Andrea Stella for McLaren’s transformation

Ever since Zak Brown vacated the post of McLaren’s team principal, the team has been on an upward trajectory. It has been mainly because of the fact the TP position was being occupied by engineers from that point on. However, Stella’s impact has been immense on the team in just one year under his leadership, and the McLaren CEO, among others, is in awe of him.

Speaking to the media, Brown levied his praise on the Italian and said, “He has been awesome. I’ll see him now on the pit wall because he is in a slightly different role. But he will challenge [team strategy calls] and let them make decisions. He will only step in if there is a really wrong decision. But that is what you want to do as a leader. He is a great communicator [and] leads by example. [But] don’t be mistaken by his soft demeanor. He is tough, demanding, and fair,”

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Positive results, boss’s approval, team’s respect, and overall growth. What more can Stella do in one year? With his no-nonsense approach heading into 2024, we are sure the only way forward is up.