McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has identified key elements from Ferrari’s dominant period with Michael Schumacher that he is trying to establish at the Woking-based team.
Stella is in his first year as McLaren boss and has overseen the team’s incredible mid-season turn around, where it has gone from the back of the grid to regular podium contenders.
His previous stint at Ferrari saw him work as an engineer during the Italian outfit’s golden era where it won five straight drivers’ championships with Michael Schumacher between 2000 and 2004.
Speaking on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Stella said he trying to replicate aspects from that period of Ferrari’s success as they are just as relevant today.
“The seniority, the quality of the people involved; it was just extraordinary,” Stella said.
“I think some of them they even accepted to stay in a certain role, knowing that they were absolutely ready to pick one or two higher levels had they gone to another team, but they accepted to stay in that role because that’s what was needed to create what was possibly the strongest team that we have seen in Formula 1.
“There was so much continuity in this journey where you keep identifying what you need to add and you keep building brick by brick. I think this is something that we sort of missed during the Fernando [Alonso] era. And we could have built it, but definitely would have needed a lot of continuity and this brick by brick approach that was established as of the mid 90’s at Ferrari.
“There are some elements of the script that haven’t changed over the years, independently of the role that I’ve been on. And continuity and seniority, they do form part of this script. And this is what we are trying to do what McLaren as well.”
Under Stella’s reign, McLaren underwent a major restructuring of its technical departments, which has played a vital role in its much-improved form since Austria.
McLaren also has a new wind tunnel and hired several high-profile staff from rivals teams, including Red Bull’s Rob Marshall and Ferrari’s David Sanchez.
Stella referred to McLaren’s signings as extra “horsepower” for the team as it looks to compete at the front of the grid on a regular basis.
“We definitely wanted to work on this seniority element, bringing what we call horsepower to the team,” he explained.
“We want to compete with Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari. In itself it’s a daunting mission, and we need to be well equipped.
“So, we are very excited that David and Rob will contribute with their expertise, with their experience, with their vision towards this generation of cars and also towards 2026.
“Like all teams, we’ll have to face this important challenge that is already in the agenda and you need to be equipped.”
Despite the influx of arrivals, Stella was clear that McLaren’s current personnel have been behind its progress this season.
“[The development we’ve had] was the result of the people that were already at McLaren and the 2024 car will be the result of the people that are already at McLaren,” Stella said.
“In 2024, we will see what we are able to do in terms of continuing with the development of the car. We will have, and we already have in fairness, full exploitation of the infrastructure that came to fruition: wind tunnel, simulator, manufacturing facilities.”
