Stella would be considered a potential successor to Frédéric Vasseur from 2028, but his return to the Scuderia would not automatically guarantee a return to success…
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The curse of the Italian team principal would still need to be overcome, as a local leader has not won a world title in red since Marco Piccinini in 1979 with Jody Scheckter, while Commendatore Enzo Ferrari was still alive. Could Stella be the one?
His past at Ferrari would clearly play in his favor: he contributed to several of the team’s major successes and worked alongside iconic figures like Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen. This experience gives him a deep understanding of Ferrari culture, a valuable asset for such a strategic role.
Flourishing across the Channel
But today, Stella is also a central element of the revival of McLaren, which he helped bring back to the top. Leaving a project he himself structured and led to success would therefore represent a significant gamble, with the risk of breaking a very positive dynamic in his career, notably the climate of trust established with his boss Zak Brown.
The appeal of a return to Maranello remains obvious, however. Ferrari, with its history and emotional weight in Formula 1, represents a unique opportunity, especially for an Italian. But the team’s recent difficulties could complicate the task and might not offer the same favorable environment as the one he currently enjoys at McLaren.
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A false good idea?
This possible transfer would also fit into a broader context of paddock reshuffling, notably with the expected departure of Gianpiero Lambiase from Red Bull Racing to McLaren in 2028, which could trigger a domino effect across several teams. Woking has, however, clearly communicated about the Italian engineer’s future role: Chief Racing Officer, reporting directly to team principal Andrea Stella.
For Ferrari, Stella would nonetheless represent an ideal profile: experienced, familiar with the house, and capable of bringing both stability and vision. But for him, the decision remains complex, between continuity and challenge. The evolution of the Formula 1 hierarchy by 2028 will be decisive in this choice. The “Stella at Ferrari” fake news is therefore at the very least premature, regardless of those who wanted to move a bit too quickly…
While the prospect of bringing the Scuderia back to glory is not without appeal, triumphing in papaya orange has given him immense satisfaction and legitimate credit. The announcement of Lambiase’s transfer in no way implies a questioning of his position, as it is hard to imagine Zak Brown recruiting his compatriot from Red Bull without consulting his own team principal.