A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
In the aftermaths of McLaren's Constrcutors' championship, team boss, Andrea Stella, did not forget to remember Gil de Ferran, former McLaren Sporting Director, and shed light on why the late Brazilian had been so instrumental in the Italian's leadership and in the subsequent turn around experienced by the Woking based team.
Speaking to media present in Abu Dhabi, including GPblog Stella revealed de Ferran's significance to himself. "The reason why I wear this pin is because Gil de Ferran, he was the first person I talked to when the proposal to become Team Principal came across. Because of his friendship, because of his wisdom, because of his incredible qualities at human level, his intelligence. He was and he has always been a great racer," revealed the Italian team boss.
Why was de Ferran so important to McLaren?
Stella then illustrated just how instrumental was de Ferran to what he helped build at McLaren: "He was the first person that I consulted and to me, it was very clear that whatever I was going to build, I was going to build it with Gil. Gil has always been on my side, he was my advisor, my personal consultant. If we implemented the culture, if we created the belief, if we were able to increase the standards to the level that was required, this is also because Gil was part of the process."
De Ferran passed away on December 23, 2023, at age 56, unexpectedly, however, the Brazilian Indycar champion was not forgotten. Stella then remembered how the team homaged the late Brazilian the very first chance they got in 2024: "So it was easy for us, it was straightforward to dedicate our first victory in Miami to Gil", before dedicating the Constructors' title as well to him.
ADVERTISEMENT
"This is for Gil, this is for you. Gil was always with us, like I wear this pin all the time when I'm at the factory. For the final race, I needed to give a clear message to myself and to everyone that Gil was with us throughout the season", concluded Stella.
Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels too!
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on Google
