McLaren have confirmed they have a new team principal in the latest of a series of moves around the F1 paddock. The Woking-based outfit’s executive Director of Racing Andrea Stella has been handed the role of Team Principal for 2023.
The Italian has made his way up the ranks since joining the team in 2015. He first worked as Head of Race Operations before being promoted to Performance Director and then his most recent role of Racing Director.
Before joining McLaren, Stella worked at Ferrari for 15 years, taking on the role of performance engineer for Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen and then race engineer for Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso. Commenting on his new role, the 51-year-old said : “I feel privileged to take on the Team Principal role as the next stage of being part of the McLaren F1 Team.
“I am grateful to Zak and the Shareholders for their trust in me and to all my colleagues and those who have supported me throughout my F1 career. We are realistic about the amount of work ahead of us to move back up the grid, but I am excited and encouraged that I am in this journey together with a team full of talent, experience, racing spirit and dedication.
“I look forward to working closely with each of them, Lando and Oscar, to together achieving great success and enjoying the journey.” Stella took up the role at McLaren vacated by Andreas Seidl, who will become Sauber’s new Chief Executive Officer in January.
He returns to the team having worked as Head of Trackside Operations there for several years. Once Seidl is in place, Sauber – who will become Audi’s factory team in 2026 – have said he will focus on working on the appointment of the squad’s new Team Principal.
“It is great to join the Sauber Group from January: this is a team with a rich history in Formula 1 and an organisation I know really well from my time working and living in Hinwil for four years,” said Seidl. "I can’t wait to join the team and work with all the colleagues at the Sauber Group on the ambitious goals we have set together. I want to thank Finn Rausing and everyone at the Sauber Group for their choice: I am looking forward to repaying their trust with my work.”
These moves come after Fred Vasseur was appointed Ferrari’s new team principal, replacing Mattia Binotto from January 2023. The 54-year-old, who led Alfa Romeo to sixth in this year’s constructors’ championship this year, in what was the team’s best finish for a decade – was Ferrari’s leading candidate to replace him.
The Frenchman has a wealth of experience in motorsport, more than 20 years in fact, and was team boss at Renault during the 2016 campaign. A thrilled Vasseur said : “I am truly delighted and honoured to take over the leadership of Scuderia Ferrari as Team Principal.
“As someone who has always held a lifelong passion for motorsport, Ferrari has always represented the very pinnacle of the racing world to me.
“I look forward to working with the talented and truly passionate team in Maranello to honour the history and heritage of the Scuderia and deliver for our Tifosi around the world.” He will reunite with Charles Leclerc, who he managed at Sauber/Alfa Romeo in his the Monaco’s native debut F1 season in 2018.
