McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown firmly cut down rumours that Andrea Stella could leave McLaren in future, with the signature of GianPiero Lambiase secured.<\/p>\n
Stella, the McLaren<\/a> team principal, had been linked with a return to Ferrari, though Brown said this rumour is \u201ctotal nonsense\u201d, and accused \u201cone or two teams\u201d of \u201cstirring\u201d. Brown stressed that it was Stella\u2019s decision to hire Lambiase.<\/p>\n Zak Brown calls Andrea Stella Ferrari rumours \u2018total nonsense\u2019<\/p>\n Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Under Stella, McLaren has rekindled its glory days, a comeback which was rapid and emphatic under the Italian\u2019s watch.<\/p>\n Stella took on the McLaren team principal role in 2023, a season which McLaren began towards the back of the grid.<\/p>\n Yet, the following year, McLaren was winning its first Constructors\u2019 title since 1998.<\/p>\n That crown was retained in 2025, while Lando Norris became world champion for the first time.<\/p>\n Not since 2008, with Lewis Hamilton, had McLaren housed a Drivers\u2019 champion.<\/p>\n McLaren has now secured the future services of GianPiero Lambiase, the long-serving race engineer to Norris\u2019 title rival of recent years, Max Verstappen.<\/p>\n Lambiase will take on the \u2018chief racing officer\u2019 role, reporting to Stella, with his arrival expected no later than 2028.<\/p>\n Initial reports surrounding the situation, however, pointed at Stella moving back to Ferrari, the team where he could be found between 2000-2014.<\/p>\n But, when that rumour was put to Brown by Sky F1, he could not have been much clearer in quashing it.<\/p>\n PlanetF1.com reported on the day of Lambiase\u2019s signing that Stella\u2019s role remains unchanged, and that he is not poised for a Ferrari return.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I confirm that\u2019s total nonsense? I can confirm that\u2019s total nonsense, and a team or two stirring it,\u201d said Brown on the Stella to Ferrari talk.<\/p>\n \u201cA great part of our sport is everyone likes to maybe destabilise teams.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t work here.<\/p>\n More on McLaren from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n Piastri\u2019s Mercedes admission ahead of Miami engine tweaks<\/a><\/p>\n Zak Brown insists A\/B team criticism not personal amid Mercedes Alpine talks<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAndrea is very committed to McLaren. We\u2019re very committed to Andrea.<\/p>\n \u201cCouldn\u2019t be happier, and you\u2019re going to see him in a McLaren outfit\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Interrupted, Brown reiterated that there was \u201czero chance\u201d, and was asked to confirm that Stella and Lambiase therefore will work together.<\/p>\n \u201c100 per cent. 100 per cent. 100 per cent,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n \u201cAndrea, at the end of the day, is the one who hired \u2018GP\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking with PlanetF1.com and other invited media, Brown described Stella as the \u201cglue\u201d of McLaren<\/a>, which will not change when Lambiase arrives.<\/p>\n Stella, meanwhile, has teased a \u201ccompletely new car\u201d to hit the grid in Miami, as F1 2026 resumes.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n