Andrea Stella was honored as Person of the Year at the 2025 Autosport Awards. The event, organized by the renowned publication, aims to celebrate the best teams and drivers, voted on in various categories.
The Italian engineer took over as McLaren’s team principal in 2023, replacing Andreas Seidl. His leadership has completely transformed the British team, which was struggling at the start of that year—scoring very few points in the early races. However, from the summer break onward, McLaren regained significant competitiveness, finishing the 2023 season in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship.
In 2024, the Woking-based team dominated much of the season, securing four victories for Lando Norris and two for his teammate Oscar Piastri. This success allowed Stella and his team to clinch the Constructors’ Championship in the final race in Abu Dhabi.
“I’m surprised and very grateful for this award,” Stella said during the Autosport Awards ceremony. “I’m a lucky person. I’m doing the job I dreamed of as a child, and I do it with passion, trying to give my best every day.”
“I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by exceptional people. If I’m receiving this award, it’s thanks to the people at McLaren. So, a huge thank you to all of you, my colleagues, and my journey with McLaren, culminating in a world championship victory. Thank you for everything; this award is for me and for everyone who has been by my side on this incredible adventure.”
With the support of CEO Zak Brown, Andrea Stella has now become a key figure at McLaren. The Italian engineer, originally from Orvieto, has been with the Woking team since 2015, initially serving as Fernando Alonso’s race engineer.
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