McLaren has announced the exit of Andreas Seidl, with Andrea Stella appointed as its new Team Principal.
Seidl joined McLaren in 2019 and oversaw a period of improvement for the outfit, including its return to the top step of the podium in 2021.
However Seidl is now leaving the team ahead of a move to Sauber, in place of new Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur.
The move is set to leave Seidl well-placed to lead Audi’s entry into Formula 1 when the manufacturer links up with Sauber from 2026.
Seidl was previously involved with Audi’s owner, VW Group, through his role as Porsche’s LMP1 team boss in the mid-2010s.
Stella joined McLaren in 2015 after a lengthy stint with Ferrari and has since held the roles of Head of Race Operations, Performance Director and since 2019 Executive Director, Racing.
“I’m delighted that Andrea Stella will step into the Team Principal role and lead our F1 technical and operational programme,” said McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
“Andrea is a highly talented, experienced and respected member of our team with a strong track record of leadership and success in Formula 1. His move into this role is a great example of the strength in depth we have in our team, and I’m excited to be working more closely with him with a joint focus on moving up the grid and winning races.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with Andreas. He has provided great leadership for the team and has played a significant part in our F1 performance recovery plan and ongoing journey to return to the front of the grid. I thank him for the transparency throughout the process which gave us time to plan accordingly.”
