Lando Norris and CEO Zak Brown attribute McLaren’s impressive turnaround in the 2023 Formula 1 season to team principal Andrea Stella’s leadership. After a dismal start, the team’s fortunes were reversed with strategic upgrades and strong management, propelling them to fourth in the constructors’ standings.
Between the lines
- McLaren’s early 2023 season struggles were transformed into a success story, with the team finishing fourth in the constructors’ standings.
- Andrea Stella, taking over as team principal, is praised by Norris and Brown for orchestrating the turnaround.
- Strategic upgrades and new technical hires were key to McLaren’s performance leap, resulting in nine top-three finishes.
- The team’s resurgence is seen as a collective effort, with Stella’s leadership at the forefront.
Go deeper
McLaren’s 2023 season started with a whimper but ended with a bang, thanks to a series of strategic moves and the leadership of Andrea Stella. After a rocky start, failing to score points in five of the first eight races, the team introduced new upgrade packages that significantly improved their performance from the Austrian Grand Prix onwards.
Stella, who stepped in as team principal after Andreas Seidl’s departure, has been a pivotal figure in the team’s resurgence. His approach to leadership has been lauded by both driver Lando Norris and CEO Zak Brown for its effectiveness in steering the team through turbulent times. Norris emphasized Stella’s role in settling the team and improving weekend performances, while Brown highlighted his communication skills and ability to empower and direct the team.
The mid-season recruitment of technical talents like Rob Marshall from Red Bull and David Sanchez from Ferrari added to the team’s competitive spirit and technical prowess. This injection of expertise, combined with Stella’s management, led to a remarkable turnaround, with the team securing a pole position, multiple podiums, and even a sprint race victory for rookie Oscar Piastri in Qatar.
The true test for McLaren will be maintaining this upward trajectory into the next season. The team aims to bridge the gap to front-runners Mercedes and Ferrari and eventually challenge Red Bull’s dominance. With Stella at the helm and a motivated team behind him, McLaren’s future in F1 looks promising.
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