McLaren boss firmly rejects Ferrari rumours

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has firmly rejected rumours that he is set to join Ferrari, with the Italian insisting the papaya squad know how to separate accurate reports from "poisoned biscuits."

Following the announcement earlier this month that Max Verstappen's long-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will join McLaren as its chief racing officer in 2028, the rumour mill whirled into life.

It was rumoured that Lambiase's arrival at McLaren would allow Stella to return to Ferrari to replace Fred Vasseur as team principal.

The rumour included claims that Stella had been offered a substantial financial package and had a pre-contract in place with the Scuderia, all of which he denies.

Rather than becoming frustrated by rumours surrounding his future, the McLaren boss has taken it all "with a smile."

He insists that the team has learned how to deal with outside distractions attempting to unsettle the Woking-based outfit, such as rumours, including ones targeted at himself.

"Honestly, some of the recent rumours, including those regarding astronomical salaries and mythical pre-contracts, have made me smile," said Stella. 

"It almost seems as though the ‘silly season’, which usually begins before summer, has arrived early! I’m quite used to this sort of thing by now and I take with a smile. 

"It almost looks like that some envious pastry chef has tried to spoil the preparation of a good dessert at the McLaren patisserie. 

"However, we do know very well how to distinguish the good ingredients from the poisoned biscuits...."