Stella was previously a McLaren govt director however took over day-to-day operating 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 way in which for an aggressive run of upgrades that turned the MCL60 right into a automotive able to commonly placing stress on Red Bull.
McLaren workers additionally just like the aspirational precedent that has been set, for the reason that Italian engineer was promoted from inside to the highest job. Additionally they fee Stella as a really efficient communicator.
For these causes, Norris reckons there is no such thing as a higher candidate to guide McLaren. Requested by Motorsport.com whether or not the paddock was proper to be so received 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 things simply on him. You have to thank a whole lot of different folks within the crew, as a result of they’re those who’ve executed a whole lot 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 properly. That is what they’re doing. So, he is executed an incredible job. I am very, very pleased with having him the place he’s.
“He nonetheless does loads 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 Images
Andrea Stella, Group Principal, McLaren
On Stella’s watch, McLaren has made high-profile signings. Ferrari head of chassis David Sanchez was employed, whereas long-serving Crimson 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 take a look at objects to the Toyota facility in Cologne.
These steps to enhance McLaren’s efficiency will likely be key in convincing Norris to signal a brand new contract, with the Briton’s present paperwork on account of 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 path to push.”
