McLaren team principal Andrea Stella paid tribute to the late Gil de Ferran after last weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, crediting the former sporting director for laying part of the groundwork that helped the team reclaim the F1 Constructors’ championship for the first time in 26 years.
De Ferran, a Brazilian motorsport legend and Indianapolis 500 winner passed away at the age of 56 in late 2023 after suffering a heart attack while attending a racing club meeting in Florida.
De Ferran’s influence at McLaren extended far beyond his official tenure, with Stella acknowledging the invaluable role the two-time ChampCar champion played in shaping McLaren’s culture and success.
Speaking after McLaren’s historic triumph at last Sunday’s season-ending F1 race in Yas Marina, Stella, who has led the team since December 2022, wore a pin bearing de Ferran’s helmet emblem as a personal tribute.
“The reason why I wear this pin is because Gil de Ferran, he was the first person I talked to when the proposal to become team principal came across,” Stella revealed in a report by Reuter’s Alan Baldwin.
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Stella shared how de Ferran’s wisdom and friendship became a cornerstone of his leadership approach at McLaren.
“Because of his friendship, because of his wisdom, because of his incredible qualities at a human level, his intelligence and he was a great racer,” Stella said.
“To me it was very clear that whatever I was going to build, I was going to build it with Gil. Gil has always been on my side.”
McLaren’s resurgence to championship glory in 2024 marked a significant milestone, but Stella was quick to highlight how de Ferran’s contributions helped shape the team’s foundation.
“He was my advisor, my personal consultant and if we implemented a culture, if we created a belief, if we were able to increase the standards to the level that was required, this is also because Gil was part of the process,” he explained.
The McLaren team had already honored de Ferran earlier in the season by dedicating their first victory of 2024, secured by Lando Norris in Miami, to his memory.
De Ferran’s lasting influence served as a source of inspiration for McLaren throughout the campaign, as Stella carried his pin to every race as a symbol of his enduring legacy.
“Gil was always with us. I wear this pin all the time when I’m at the factory and for the final race I needed to give a clear message to myself and to everyone that Gil was with us throughout the season,” Stella said.
De Ferran’s passing marked a profound loss for the motorsport world, but his legacy remains alive at McLaren through the team’s culture, achievements, and the values he instilled.
Stella’s heartfelt tribute underscores the enduring impact of the late racing icon on the team’s extraordinary return to the top of Formula 1.
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