Fernando Alonso recently commented on McLaren’s victory in the F1 Constructors’ Championship. After congratulating the team on their achievement, he also took the opportunity to joke about his history with the Woking-based outfit.
“I should be part of Andrea Stella’s bonus for winning the Constructors’ Championship,” joked the Spanish driver. Fernando Alonso returned to McLaren in 2015, bringing Andrea Stella with him, who had been his race engineer during his time at Ferrari.
“Andrea Stella is at McLaren also thanks to me”
Today, Andrea Stella holds the role of team principal and has been instrumental in McLaren’s resurgence, culminating in this year’s championship win. Alongside CEO Zak Brown, Andrea Stella spearheaded an ambitious project that has brought McLaren back to the top of Formula 1.
The championship victory at the Abu Dhabi circuit marked McLaren’s first Constructors’ title in 26 years. The team had last claimed the crown in 1998, long before either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri were born. Zak Brown and Andrea Stella’s efforts have paid off, particularly in reviving a team that, just four years ago, was languishing at the back of the grid.
Fernando Alonso expressed his admiration for both, stating: “Zak is a very dear friend of mine. Andrea is a very intelligent guy and deserves this success.” He added, “In a way, I brought Andrea Stella to McLaren.”
From the start, the Spanish driver showed genuine appreciation for the work of his former race engineer. In Abu Dhabi, at the end of the race, he congratulated Andrea Stella with a nod to the title lost in 2010: “In the end, today Abu Dhabi gave you back what it took away in 2010.”
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