F1: McLaren extend Peter Prodromou contract 
2025-02-11
Category: sports

McLaren have extended the contract of their technical director aerodynamics Peter Prodromou, one of the key architects of the team's revival over the past two seasons.The 56-year-old was appointed to his role in March 2023 as part of a major reshuffle of senior technical leaders under team principal Andrea Stella.McLaren did not reveal the length of Prodromou's new contract but described it as "a multi-year extension". The team used the same phrase when describing the new contract signed by Stella last summer.Prodromou had been sidelined under previous leadership structures but Stella identified his expertise as a key ingredient needed for success.The team started the 2023 season at the back of the grid, but ended last year as constructors' champions, the first time they had won the makers' title since 1998.Stella said: "The cultural, organisational and technical leadership Peter has brought has been invaluable, and he has been a key architect of the team's performance turnaround, on and off the track."The journey we have been on together as a team, we could not have done without Peter, and we look forward to continuing our quest of fighting for further World Championships together."Prodromou began his F1 career at McLaren in 1991 before joining Red Bull in 2006 to work alongside Adrian Newey.He was Newey's chief designer at Red Bull through their four consecutive world championship doubles with Sebastian Vettel from 2010-14, before rejoining McLaren.Before Stella was appointed team principal in December 2022 by McLaren Racing chief executive officer Zak Brown, Prodromou had been moved onto side projects under former technical director James Key.But Stella removed Key and set up a new structure. Prodromou now works alongside three other engineers in leading the design of the McLaren car under Stella - chief designer Rob Marshall and technical directors of engineering Neil Houldey and performance Mark Temple.Marshall, who became Red Bull's chief designer after Prodromou left, joined McLaren at the start of last year.Prodromou said: "It is an honour to be part of such a collaborative team and contributing to this strong upwards trajectory. Following last season's success, I look forward to contributing further to our shared ambition of securing more World Championships."I'm grateful to Zak and Andrea for their continued confidence in me as a technical director aerodynamics and also to all my colleagues in the team who have provided the highest class of support to me at a personal and professional level."