Formula 1 could see a major move behind the scenes very soon. Andrea Stella is now emerging as a possible replacement for Frédéric Vasseur at Ferrari, in a scenario that gained momentum after the confirmation of Gianpiero Lambiase’s departure from Red Bull Racing for McLaren in 2028.
Read more F1: Williams announces major signing from Mercedes
This move by Lambiase could create a domino effect on the grid, as if he takes on a leadership position at McLaren in 2028, perhaps the team principal role currently held by Stella would force the Italian to seek a new destination, paving the way for a return to Ferrari, the team where he built much of his career.
Stella played an important role in Ferrari’s most successful phase in Formula 1. He joined the team in 2000 and served as Michael Schumacher’s performance engineer between 2002 and 2006, a period marked by titles. Subsequently, he worked with Kimi Raikkonen between 2007 and 2008, accumulating more achievements.
Following that, Stella became Fernando Alonso’s race engineer between 2010 and 2014. After leaving Ferrari in 2015, he began a long journey at McLaren, which culminated in his promotion to team principal in 2023, a period in which he led the team’s recovery and the winning of the two most recent constructors’ titles (2024 and 2025), in addition to Lando Norris’s drivers’ title in 2025.
Read more F1: Irvine says Wolff «cannot interfere» in the fight between Antonelli and Russell
Currently, Stella holds a solid position within McLaren. Alongside Zak Brown and Rob Marshall, he was one of those primarily responsible for the team’s resurgence, which had not won a championship since 2008 and had lost competitiveness over the years, especially during the frustrated partnership with Honda.
Therefore, leaving McLaren could represent a risk. The Italian is embedded in a consolidated and competitive structure, and swapping this environment for another team could mean a step backward, even with the prestige of taking command of Ferrari.
Still, the emotional bond with the Italian team remains relevant. Stella spent more than half of his career in Maranello, and the appeal of returning to Ferrari, along with familiarity with the culture and language, could weigh in an eventual decision. However, it is still early for conclusions, especially with Formula 1 starting a new technical era that could alter the balance of power by 2028.
