Born on February 22, 1971, in Orvieto, Italy, Andrea Stella is an Italian engineer who, since 2023, has held the position of Team Principal at McLaren Racing, a prominent Formula 1 team. His journey in the high-octane world of Formula 1 began after significant stints at Scuderia Ferrari, where he served as a performance engineer and later as a race engineer.
Stella’s academic background is as impressive as his professional one. He graduated with a degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. His quest for knowledge continued, and in 2000, he completed a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, focusing on the fluid dynamics of flames.
The year 2000 marked the beginning of Stella’s illustrious career with Ferrari. He initially joined as a performance engineer for the test team. His skill and dedication soon led him to work directly with racing legends, first as a performance engineer for Michael Schumacher from 2002 to 2006 and then for Kimi Räikkönen from 2007 to 2008.
Stella’s Rise: From Engineer to McLaren Chief
As his reputation grew, Stella took on the role of race engineer, first for Räikkönen in 2009 and then for Fernando Alonso from 2010 to 2014. His expertise was not limited to four wheels; in 2006, he also served as track engineer for MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi during a test session with Ferrari.
In 2015, Stella’s journey took him to McLaren, where he assumed the role of Head of Race Operations. By 2018, his relentless pursuit of excellence saw him become the Performance Director alongside Pat Fry, and then the Race Director in 2019. In these roles, he formed a strategic triumvirate with James Key as Technical Director and Piers Thynne as Production Director, all under the leadership of Team Director Andreas Seidl.
Following Andreas Seidl’s appointment as head of Sauber, a significant shift occurred on December 13, 2022. Andrea Stella was promoted to Team Principal of McLaren, a role he embarked on starting from the 2023 season. This marked a new chapter in his career, promising to bring his wealth of experience and strategic acumen to the forefront of McLaren’s quest for glory in the world of Formula 1.
F1 Andrea Stella Ferrari McLaren. F1 Andrea Stella Ferrari McLaren.