The 2025 season will be remembered in the annals of Formula 1: Max Verstappen’s comeback and McLaren’s return to victory marked a truly memorable championship. The Woking-based team clinched the Constructors’ Championship with six races to spare, while its drivers and Max Verstappen battled for the Drivers’ Championship until the very last corner, decided by just two points. “Less than 0.5%,” emphasizes Andrea Stella, the engineer from Umbria who guided the Papaya team to success. But what makes this victory truly special is the way it was achieved: with McLaren’s own conditions, following a clear and shared philosophy.
The Stella method: from Ferrari DNA to McLaren revolution
Andrea Stella brought a valuable wealth of experience to McLaren, developed during his years at Maranello.
“I arrived in Formula 1 with Ferrari in the early 2000s, during a period of great success. That’s where I quickly understood what can be achieved with the right team. That reference has stayed with me, and I try to pass it on every day to all the members of my team.”
The team principal does not speak of “Italian genius,” but of common sense:
“I would rather call it common sense: the importance of human relationships, a clear vision of performance, and a practical philosophy aimed at protecting the team.”
His mark is evident in the technical reorganization carried out together with Zak Brown:
“It was like a puzzle with pieces that didn’t fit perfectly. We put everything on the table, reorganized, and made the system more solid. Then we added key people like Rob Marshall, who brought experience, expertise, and above all, the courage to take risks.”
The value of the team and driver development
For Andrea Stella, McLaren’s strength lies in unity and shared values.
“You can win, and you can lose. But the way you do things is entirely within your control. That’s what makes me, as a team principal, and the whole team truly proud. Giving both drivers equal opportunities, in the end, we were right.”
The collective work was the real engine of success:
“We worked as a team, and as a team we won: the drivers, the engineers, the trackside staff, and the incredible technical department in the UK.”
The drivers also embraced this philosophy. Lando Norris made a decisive step forward:
“The real turning point for Lando came last year, with crucial battles such as the one in Austria. That’s when he truly began to believe he could compete with Verstappen and beat him.”
Oscar Piastri, for his part, showed maturity and resilience:
“We know Oscar will become a world champion. He has already come very close. His growth has been impressive: he has faced difficult moments, from the Las Vegas disqualification to strategic errors in Qatar, without ever trying to blame anyone. He will come back even stronger.”
McLaren has proven that it is possible to win while respecting values and people, building a culture based on progress and unity. Andrea Stella is already looking to the future with confidence:
“Today’s results are the result of the entire team’s work. I have confidence in the technical quality of our racing department, the same group that built a car capable of winning the Constructors’ Championship for two consecutive years.”
2026 has already begun, and McLaren presents itself as a solid, aware team, ready to confirm that success is never the result of chance, but of a method that places the value of the group at the center.
As the grid prepares for the massive regulatory shift, the stability within Woking remains their greatest asset. While rivals undergo management changes and technical reshuffles, Andrea Stella’s McLaren remains a beacon of consistency, proving that a healthy culture is the fastest way to find performance on the track.
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