McLaren announce SIGNING of recent F1 free agent

Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

McLaren announce SIGNING of recent free agent

The constructors' champions have made a major move ahead of the new campaign

Originally written by Simmey Hannifin Donaldson. This version is a translation.

Friday 24 January 2025 18:00

McLaren have announced a major signing for the 2025 season, picking up a recent free agent.

The papaya team are looking to build on a 2024 season which saw them hold off Ferrari to win their first constructors' title in the 21st century.

Article continues under video

However, they are not resting on their laurels, instead acting quickly to bring in former Sauber team chief Alessandro Alunni Bravi as chief business affairs officer just days after it was announced he would be leaving his former team.

In an official team statement, McLaren confirmed that Bravi's role was a newly-created position that will see the Italian provide leadership across a range of McLaren Racing business matters.

Alessandro Alunni Bravi will be joining McLaren Racing as its new chief business affairs officer

McLaren won the constructors' championship in 2024

Alessandro Alunni Bravi joins McLaren

"Alongside managing our legal and driver development functions, he will also provide invaluable support on all professional driver business management matters, racing governance activities across our various rights holders and governing body relationships and broad business support to all our racing series as needed.

"We look forward to welcoming him to the McLaren Racing family in February."

Elsewhere, Bravi himself confessed to feeling special emotions after confirming the move.

"McLaren is a team I have been a huge fan of my whole life, and it therefore sparks special emotions personally to have the opportunity to now work with such an amazing group of people," he explained.

"I’m so grateful to be joining such a great organisation with the values and culture that are so clear to see from the outside.

I want to reward the trust and confidence that Zak and the Board have put in me by giving my full dedication and effort to help contribute to the continued success, as I believe teamwork is key to everything.

"I am so happy to be joining a team that I truly believe sets the benchmark in Formula 1 both on and off the track, and I can’t wait to get started at the beginning of February.”

McLaren will be looking to defend their constructors' championship in 2025, whilst putting up an even stronger challenge for the drivers' title.

In 2024, Lando Norris pushed Max Verstappen slightly, but it was the Dutchman who ultimately came out on top, winning his fourth consecutive drivers' crown at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Ferrari Mercedes McLaren Zak Brown