McLaren might view this year’s British Grand Prix as a moment to celebrate their revival in Formula One. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are set to lead the charge at Silverstone as strong contenders, sparking genuine hope that after years of struggle, McLaren is back where it belongs.
Around half a million fans are expected over the race weekend, and though no one is making bold predictions—especially with possible rain on Sunday—the team's transformation since their lowest point has been striking. A decade ago, McLaren was in deep trouble. In 2015, when Andrea Stella, now team principal, first joined as trackside operations head, they began the season a staggering 5.1 seconds off pole in Australia and finished ninth overall.
For McLaren, once Formula One’s second most successful team with 12 drivers’ and eight constructors’ titles, the decline was startling. Seeing Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso, both world champions, grappling with an underperforming Honda engine was almost surreal—a once-dominant force suddenly struggling near the back of the grid.
Yet despite the turbulence, a quiet but determined rebuilding process was underway. By last season, the hard work paid off, with Norris emerging as a genuine challenger to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. This year, McLaren’s resurgence continues, fueled by a confidence reminiscent of the days when Lewis Hamilton last won for the team at the 2008 British GP—their most recent drivers’ title.
More than 10,000 fans have secured tickets for the specially named “Landostand” at Stowe corner to cheer Norris on, and the sea of McLaren’s signature orange is impossible to ignore at the historic circuit.
Stella has been pivotal in this revival. Promoted from racing director in 2019 to team principal at the end of 2022, he combines technical expertise with meticulous leadership. His insistence on precision is evident even in small moments—during post-race press sessions, he carefully organizes recording devices into neat rows before speaking, a habit journalists now mimic without prompting.
Such attention to detail reflects the disciplined approach that has brought McLaren back to the forefront—one steadily built over years of perseverance.
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