“Andrea has done an outstanding job, not only in the culture he has created at McLaren, but in the way he has empowered people. He’s a very determined and inspirational leader.”
Stella admitted during the past season that there was no guarantee that his team could continue the upwards trend, and although that’s a common F1 maxim, 2025 has confirmed that McLaren continues to move in the right direction.
“Over the last 12 months we have been able to deliver performance trackside at a faster rate than our competitors,” Stella told Motor Sport late last year.
“There was nothing wrong in the car, but it was underdeveloped so we accelerated development in many areas and this has led us to close up with a faster, steeper gradient. You are not necessarily going to continue this momentum in the future in a way that guarantees you will overtake them [competitors].
“There’s a constant process of reassessing where you are and where you want to head in the future, what do you carry of what you have done before and what might you have to update. We need to approach this actively rather than passively, so we’re definitely talking internally about our attitude.
Andrea Stella and Lando Norris celebrate victory in Miami
Kym Illman/Getty Images
“What’s our attitude to 2025, 2026? Where are we going to put our resources? Is a short-term investment [for ’25] a long-term investment technically because while it won’t be relevant for ’26, we’re growing our expertise. These are the reflections you need to consolidate the momentum and continue the trajectory.”
The 2024 Miami GP was not exactly the culmination of the transformation process that Stella had begun a year earlier, but it was definitely a turning point in making McLaren the real contender that is seen as favourite for the titles.
Speaking after securing its ninth constructors’ championship in Abu Dhabi last year, Brown said: “Next [we’ll] try and repeat the constructors’ and get the drivers’.
“I’ll let Oscar and Lando figure that one out.”
As Brown’s wish came true, a year on from its Miami win, McLaren faces a very different challenge this weekend, with its drivers first and second in the standings.
Piastri will be looking to keep his momentum going after taking the championship lead last week, while Norris needs to bounce back from the disappointment of the Saudi Arabian GP – there’s no better place to do it than in the venue of his first win 12 months ago.