After a torrid start to 2023, McLaren made dramatic steps with its mid-season car upgrades that allowed Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to take nine podiums between them, propelling the team past fast-starting Aston Martin to fourth in the constructors' championship.
That turnaround resulted from a technical restructuring by Stella to better utilise staff already in place at Woking, with its new hires and facility improvements yet to be deployed in 2024 and beyond.
That is driving optimism that McLaren can continue to make big gains and challenge the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes this year.
But Stella says the team doesn't talk about setting concrete goals like that, and instead focuses on improving its processes and development.
"I won't talk about how we want to be second, first, third – because that's not even the language we use internally at McLaren. We don't talk about this," Stella told Autosport in an exclusive interview.
"Results take care of themselves. What we talk about is: 'What do we have to do in terms of aerodynamic development, mechanical development, how do we improve the interaction with the tyres'?
Source: Autosport