McLaren CEO Zak Brown has praised Team Principal Andrea Stella as the key to the team’s recent surge in Formula 1, calling him the “best Team Principal in F1” and crediting him as the team’s “secret weapon” in their ongoing success.
Stella’s journey with McLaren began in 2015 as Head of Race Operations, and he later held the positions of Performance Director and Executive Director, Racing, before being appointed Team Principal in December 2022. Since then, the team’s fortunes have dramatically improved.
In 2023, McLaren made an impressive comeback, climbing from a challenging start at the Bahrain Grand Prix to securing podium finishes by the end of the season. Their progress continued into 2024, when the team clinched its first Teams’ Championship in 26 years.
The 2025 season has also begun strongly for McLaren, with back-to-back victories in Australia and China, thanks to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The Chinese Grand Prix saw the team secure a 1-2 finish, further solidifying their success.
Reflecting on McLaren’s triumph in Shanghai, Brown spoke with Sky Sports F1, with Stella alongside him, and emphasized the pivotal role the Team Principal has played in their achievements.
“It definitely wasn’t straightforward,” Brown said, commenting on the team’s 1-2 result. “What it might look like on paper… the team did a great job with strategy, once again showing we’ve got the best driver line-up. But our real secret weapon is to my left—Andrea, the best Team Principal in F1.”
Brown went on to highlight the combination of factors contributing to McLaren’s strong performance, including the hard work of the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) and the team’s efforts at the racetracks. He also stressed the importance of maintaining focus amid fierce competition.
Oscar Piastri’s victory in China followed a multi-year contract extension he signed with McLaren in March. When asked about the significance of this move, Brown acknowledged its importance in providing stability for the team. “It’s incredible for the whole team,” Brown said. “If you look at our pit wall, our technical leadership, Andrea, our drivers—everything revolves around stability, visibility, teamwork, and camaraderie.”
Brown also praised McLaren’s driver lineup, noting their exceptional focus and technical understanding of the car. “The drivers get along great and have done such an outstanding job; they’re both at the top of their game, and it’s great to see how well they’re performing.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, scheduled for April 4-6, Brown expressed optimism about continuing the team’s strong run but acknowledged the stiff competition from McLaren’s rivals.
“I think we’ll do pretty well,” Brown said. “The top four teams are closely matched, and it’s great to be part of that mix. Lewis [Hamilton] drove brilliantly in the Sprint in Shanghai, and we saw how fast he was. It’s clear that we need to approach every weekend knowing that any of the top four teams can win. It’s exciting that we’re one of them.”
Brown also shared his optimism for the remainder of the season, predicting a thrilling contest ahead. “F1 has promised an epic season, and I think that’s exactly what we’re seeing,” he said, highlighting McLaren’s strong historical record in Japan and the challenging nature of the circuit.
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