McLaren, with Andrea Stella as Team Principal, arrives in Baku with the first match point for the constructors’ championship right in front of Ferrari. Friday did not go in the best way for the papaya team, but tomorrow we will surely see them back at the top of the standings.
The Italian engineer spent several years in Maranello, but his career changed in 2015 with the move to England. Over the past few years McLaren has managed to find solutions that completely overturned the competition. Now Red Bull’s dominance up until the early races of 2024 already seems like a distant memory. The only dilemma is which of the two drivers will be crowned world champion.
Andrea Stella between past and present
During the usual Friday press conference in Baku, Andrea Stella answered questions about his experience at Ferrari compared with his current role at McLaren. The Italian spoke about the small details that distinguish two teams that both represent the history of Formula 1.
“I always say that the differences are much smaller than one might think. Even during my career at Ferrari, there were different versions of Ferrari, even under the same roof and with the same name.” Let us remember that Andrea arrived in Maranello in 2000 and stayed until he followed Alonso, of whom he was race engineer, to McLaren.
“Certainly both teams are characterized by the pursuit of excellence, by the constant search for the highest standards. Surely, the saying that in Ferrari you can face a lot of external pressure, from the media, from the attention you receive, let me say that it is true, and you absolutely have to deal with it.”
The Italian also went back to the much-discussed episode of the position swap at Monza. On that occasion, the media pressure was certainly no less than the attention usually given to Ferrari: “But at the same time, in McLaren, I have to say that we receive a lot of attention. And we received a lot last time, and we receive a lot now. Today we have been talking about Monza for quite some time. So, many more similarities than differences, from what I could experience.”
The passion in Ferrari
The Team Principal was also asked about another theme that links the two teams and shared his vision: “When it comes to the passion associated with being part of the team – the pride of belonging, of wearing the shirt, whether Ferrari or McLaren – I feel the same thing. And if anything, an important part of the way Zak and I try to shape the team, to create the right values inside it, has to do with the sense of belonging.”
Therefore what differentiates the two teams is mainly the stronger media pressure at Ferrari. As Andrea himself explained, it is a factor you “have to deal with.” It is certainly an element that partly influences the work carried out, but it is obviously not the main reason behind the success McLaren has been experiencing.
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