12/07/2025 06:30
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has outlined a clear plan for
the future of the Woking-based outfit, following so much recent
success. The British team has been on a staggering rise since
introducing a substantial upgrade ahead of the 2023 Austrian Grand
Prix, with McLaren having continued to make progress ever since.
It recovered from an initial slow start to the 2024 season to
overcome Red Bull, securing its first constructors' title since
1998. This year, the papaya squad has gone from strength to
strength with the MCL39, winning nine of the opening 12 rounds. As
a result, a remarkable 238-point lead has been built in the
standings, with a title defence looking increasingly likely.
McLaren hold a similar dominance in the F1 drivers' title, where
Oscar Piastri has a 8-point advantage over Lando Norris – Max
Verstappen in third is 69 points adrift. However, 2026 represents
a reset in the pinnacle of motorsport, with the introduction of the
new power unit regulations. Despite the unknown surrounding it,
Stella has a clear target for the future of the team. When asked by
Martin Brundle at McLaren Racing Live what McLaren's plan is for
the future, Stella answered: "Well, Martin, you mentioned a word
that is so, so important for me, personally and for the McLaren
Formula 1 team, which is legacy. Legacy, like we continue the work
that some great people have started before us. "You mentioned
Bruce McLaren and the likes of Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, all the
success and the trophies that we have in the cabinet at the MTC in
Woking for us is so important. We feel so privileged. "We feel the
responsibility of carrying forward this legacy, and for us, it's
just an incredible moment when we see that we are capable of adding
trophies to the cabinet, and we have added so many trophies
recently that we will have to increase the cabinet, we have to make
a bigger cabinet. "So, this is one thing that, for me personally,
is huge joy, thinking that we are contributing to the legacy and
the intent, the objective, the mission, is very clear. We want to
continue adding many trophies to the cabinet. We want to continue
adding success to the legacy of McLaren for the years to come.
That's our mission."
