The power of collaboration: Stella on unlocking McLaren's potential
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McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes that a crucial element of the Woking-based outfit's recent success in Formula 1 is unlocking the potential of the team's personnel.
The Italian is convinced that fostering a supportive and collaborative environment, starting from the very top of the organization, is paramount to achieving success.
However, this is far from a one-man job according to Stella, who highlights the critical support he receives from key figures within McLaren, such as CEO Zak Brown and the team's shareholders.
For team papaya's chief architect, the alignment of McLaren's top brass is fundamental to cultivating a strong organizational culture.
"The unlocking of the potential of the people, first of all, is not only my contribution, it's the contribution of the management, and this is extremely important because you cannot do anything if you are a one-man show," Stella told the media at the end of last season.
"Even if you are team principal, you need the support of your CEO, you need the support of the chairman, you need the support of the shareholders – that we need to get aligned, otherwise you don't create a culture.
Walking the Factory with Zak
Stella described how regular engagement with leadership plays a vital role in shaping the team's collective vision.
"I have always felt in my position as team principal great support, and we deployed our shareholders walking the factory, Zak walks the factory with me very, very often and we have several conversations.
"Ultimately is the accumulation of these numerous conversations that change the culture, build the trust in an organisation.
"You see that as a team principal, as a CEO, you are one of us, and thanks to our conversation we build the way we want to be as a group.
"And then we become the guarantee that the way we want to be as a group will be implemented – that's where you really make a difference as a team principal or a CEO. Not because you bring new staff but because what we agree all together will be guaranteed.
"We are responsible to make sure that this is brought to life. I would say this is the summary that we got through."
Efficiency: The Engine of Progress
Beyond leadership and collaboration, Stella identified efficiency as a cornerstone of McLaren's resurgence.
Reflecting on the technical strides the team has made in the past year and a half, he pointed to their success in optimizing the use of aerodynamic tools, such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel testing.
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"You would always take P1 in the championship and then see how you can improve your efficiency in terms of aerodynamic development in the combination of CFD and wind tunnel time, because the two things are compounded," said Stella.
However, he cautioned that more resources do not necessarily equate to faster or better results.
"It's not because I have three times the wind tunnel time I necessarily will develop the car three times faster, that's not the case," he explained. "It's not necessarily about quantity; we are very much investing on the quality of the development."
McLaren's New Wind Tunnel: A Turning Point
The introduction of McLaren's new wind tunnel marked a turning point in their development process. Stella underscored the logistical advantages this upgrade brought to the team's efficiency.
"I always stress that in 2023, both the upgrades in Austin and Singapore were designed and developed at the Toyota wind tunnel," he explained.
"But to develop things at the Toyota wind tunnel, you have the part ready, and then it's tested two days after just because of the shipment. Now, we have the part ready, and it's tested two hours after, so you just gain so much efficiency."
While the wind tunnel represents a significant improvement, Stella emphasized that it is the team's overall approach to aerodynamic development that truly drives progress.
"Chasing efficiency is not only thanks to the wind tunnel but is in the whole approach to aerodynamic development," he said.
A Collective Vision for Sustained Success
As McLaren continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in Formula 1, Andrea Stella's leadership style offers valuable insights into the power of collective effort.
His belief in the importance of collaboration, alignment, and efficiency underpins the team's rise to the top of the standings.
With a strong foundation of teamwork and a commitment to continuous improvement, McLaren is poised to remain a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.
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