Andrea Stella considered for Ferrari role as Fred Vasseur’s replacement despite teams performance
Photo by Mark Sutton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images Reports are circulating that Ferrari chairman John Elkann is considering McLaren team principal Andrea Stella as a replacement for Fred Vasseur, as he wants to put an Italian at the helm of the team. Vasseur has been in charge at Ferrari since December 2022, taking over from Mattia Binotto in Maranello. The Frenchman joined Ferrari from Sauber at the same time Stella stepped into the team principal role at McLaren, replacing Andreas Seidl ahead of the 2023 season.
Since Stella took over, McLaren have seen a significant turnaround. The team won back-to-back constructors’ championships and Lando Norris claimed the drivers’ title in 2025. It was their first constructors’ title since 1998 and their first drivers’ crown since 2008.
Vasseur has spent his tenure working to rebuild processes that could eventually return titles to Maranello. Kimi Raikkonen secured Ferrari’s last drivers’ championship in 2007, and with their most recent teams’ title coming in 2008, this period marks their longest title drought. Ferrari chairman wants Andrea Stella to replace Vasseur But it’s not just about results.
According to RTL reporter Felix Gorner, Ferrari chairman Elkann is looking at Stella because he wants an Italian leading the team in Maranello. McLaren’s recent hire of Red Bull’s Gianpiero Lambiase could also play into Elkann’s plans. McLaren announced on Thursday that Lambiase will join from Red Bull by the 2028 season as their new chief racing officer.
Stella was involved in bringing Lambiase over, but Gorner believes McLaren see him as a future team principal. Gorner told sport. de : “Lambiase is leaving with the prospect of a career move.