“He was my advisor”: McLaren F1 boss pays tribute to Gil De Ferran amid recent resurgence

McLaren F1 Team Principal Andrea Stella has paid a touching homage to the late racing legend Gil de Ferran after the team's monumental constructors' championship victory in 2024. De Ferran, the 2003 Indy 500 champ, was McLaren's Sporting Director from 2018 to 2021 and continued with the team in an advisory role until his death at the age of 56 on December 30, 2023.

A year on, Stella, who was promoted to Team Principal in mid-2023, has remembered how pivotal de Ferran's contribution was in the initial months of his new role and McLaren's resurgence to becoming a champion after 26 long years. During the team's victory celebrations at the F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi, he also wore a badge in the late two-time IndyCar champ's memory. Speaking about their relationship, Stella said (via FormulaRapida):

"The reason why I wear the 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 a human level, his intelligence and he was a great racer."

"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 and if we implemented a culture, if we created a 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," the 53-year-old added.

De Ferran died of a heart attack while racing at the Concours Club circuit in Opa-Llocka, Florida. He retired from professional racing in 2003 after winning two CART (now IndyCar) championships in 2001 and 2002 with Team Penske. From 2005 to 2007, he also served as Honda's Sporting Director.

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McLaren gives a heartwarming tribute to Gil de Ferran on his first death anniversary

Gil De Ferrarn at the F1 Winter Testing in Barcelona - Day One - Source: Getty

Gil de Ferran was a brilliant racing mind. McLaren underwent significant change during his time with the team. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, who knew him for over two decades, called him an "incredible person and a true champion" in a statement after his death in 2023.

In 2024, the Woking outfit was a team on a mission. After Lando Norris took his first F1 victory at the Miami GP in May, the team dedicated it to de Ferran. The impact of the Brazilian legend was such that it dedicated the constructors' championship to him too on Instagram on the day of his first death anniversary. McLaren's official account posted a photo of a painting of de Ferran and captioned it:

"A year ago today, we lost a beloved member of the McLaren family. You’re always in our hearts, Gil. 🧡 That Championship win was for you."

In 2013, Autosport named de Ferran one of the 50 greatest drivers to never have raced in F1. Earlier this month, Team Penske awarded him with an even greater honor by inducting him into the team's Hall of Fame for his two IndyCar championships and the Indy 500 victory with it.