Who was McLaren F1’s first team principal?

The McLaren F1 team has a lengthy history in Formula 1 and championship wins to prove it. We take a look at who led the team's inception.

Who was McLaren F1’s first team principal?

The McLaren F1 team has a decades-long history in Formula 1

The McLaren F1 team is the second most successful team in Formula 1. This historic outfit was started by the highly regarded racing driver and engineer, Bruce McLaren in 1963. The New Zealander established the team and his legacy lives on to this day. McLaren has won 12 Drivers’ Championships in the sport as well 8 Constructors’ titles. The team is intertwined with the legacy of F1.

The first Team Principal who led the McLaren F1 team was of course its legendary founder, Bruce McLaren. Bruce was the leader of the squad for seven years, from 1963-1970. However, McLaren made its Grand Prix debut in 1966 in Monaco back then known as Bruce McLaren Motor Racing. Bruce held the position of Team Principal while also being the lead driver of the team.

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Zak Brown has helped the team carry on the legacy of Bruce McLaren

It is unbelievable to think about a person filling both of these high-intensity roles these days but that’s what made Bruce a legend. The whole McLaren Group, including the McLaren F1 team, owes its success to its founder. Even today, the work ethic is inspired by Bruce’s ideals. Alas, this incredible talent passed away at the young age of 32. Bruce McLaren had a fatal crash in his Can-am car at the Goodwood Circuit in England. A man who certainly had a lot more to give the world.

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Also Read: Who was the first ever Scuderia Ferrari F1 principal?

The present state of McLaren F1

Bruce is also credited for McLaren’s iconic orange colors

After Bruce McLaren’s death, the leadership role was taken up by Teddy Mayer before passing it on to Ron Dennis in the start of the 1980s. This began the era of Dennis’s dominance at Woking, as he carried the team to its immense success. By the end of Ron Dennis’s 3 decade-long reign, the McLaren F1 team had fallen into a decline. With Ron leaving the team in 2017 after a disastrous start to the renewed McLaren Honda partnership.

Dennis’s departure brought in a new era of McLaren F1. Zak Brown became the CEO of the team and proceeded to bring Woking into the 21st century. Zak signed the German, Andreas Seidl as the McLaren Team Principal in 2019. Seidl propelled the team’s efforts and was a chief architect in rebuilding McLaren. The British outfit secured 3rd place in the champion in 2020, a vast improvement as compared to its slump in recent years.

As 2023 approaches, the McLaren F1 team heads into a new direction. As Andreas Seidl vacated his role as the German will be heading the rival Sauber team. Andrea Stella was promoted from his position of Racing Director to the role of Team Principal at McLaren. Stella joined the team in 2015 and is a respected across the paddock. Thus Andrea now has the mantle of leading the team to its first title since 2008.

Hence, McLaren F1 has had quite a journey over the years. Zak Brown deserves credit for the team’s recent advances and endeavors even in other racing series such as IndyCar. On the side of the F1 team, Andrea Stella will be having some heavy weight on his shoulders, as the Italian coordinates with Brown toward the team’s objectives. It certainly is an exciting time to be working at Woking.

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