Stella: McLaren's Title Success Built on People, Not Luck

Andrea Stella asserts that McLaren’s greatest strength heading into the 2026 Formula 1 reset is not a technical advantage but the proven caliber of its people. The team principal credits the 'world-class' technical team for engineering the squad's remarkable transformation from a lower-tier midfield contender in early 2023 to back-to-back Constructors' Champions.

Why it matters:

With a complete overhaul of power unit and aerodynamic regulations set for 2026, the entire grid faces significant uncertainty. Stella’s confidence is rooted in the belief that a team capable of turning a struggling car into a title winner possesses the fundamental processes and culture to succeed again, regardless of the rulebook.

The details:

• Stella highlighted the team's journey, developing the car from being the 'ninth or 10th best' at the start of 2023 to the 'best car definitely in the first part of 2025'.
• He specifically praised the leadership and expertise of key figures including Peter Prodromou (aerodynamics), Rob Marshall (chief designer), and Neil Houldey (engineering).
  • The Italian boss went as far as to call it 'one of the strongest technical departments that I could have been part of in my career, 26 years in Formula 1'.
• McLaren will continue as a Mercedes customer team in 2026, integrating supplied power units and gearboxes into their all-new car.

What's next:

Stella believes the principles behind McLaren’s resurgence are fully transferable to the new era. While the specific technical solutions for the current cars won't apply, the team's high standards, development approach, and working methods will. This deep-seated institutional knowledge makes McLaren optimistic about its prospects for remaining at the front when the new regulations debut.