McLaren sealed the 2024 Constructors’ Championship after Lando Norris’ dominant victory over the Ferrari’s of Calos Sainz and Charles Leclerc at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking a monumental achievement for one of Formula 1’s most iconic teams and ending a 26 year drought.
Founded in 1966 by Bruce McLaren of New Zealand, the team quickly established itself as a competitive force in Formula 1. McLaren claimed its first Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships in 1974, with Emerson Fittipaldi leading the charge. The team rose to unparalleled heights in the 1980s and 1990s under Ron Dennis, whose leadership turned McLaren into a dominant force. During this golden era, drivers like Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna brought McLaren numerous titles. Lauda secured the 1984 Drivers’ Championship, while the Prost-Senna rivalry became one of the most celebrated and intense in the sport’s history.
The late 1990s saw continued success with Mika Häkkinen, who delivered back-to-back Drivers’ Championships in 1998 and 1999 with McLaren winning the Constructors’ title in 1998 while losing to Ferrari in 1999.. However, Ferrari’s dominance under Michael Schumacher in the early 2000s shifted the competitive balance, leaving McLaren chasing the leaders.
In 2007, McLaren faced a tumultuous season. Lewis Hamilton burst onto the scene, nearly winning the Drivers’ title in his rookie year but losing by a single point. However, the Spygate scandal resulted in McLaren’s disqualification from the Constructors’ Championship, nullifying its 218 points compared to Ferrari’s 204. The following year, Hamilton clinched the Drivers’ Championship by just one point over Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, but McLaren fell short of the Constructors’ title, finishing 21 points behind Ferrari.
In 2024, McLaren’s revival was built on consistency and teamwork. While Max Verstappen dominated the Drivers’ Championship with 9 race wins, Red Bull’s lack of depth—highlighted by Sergio Pérez’s inconsistent performances—eliminated them from Constructors’ contention. This left the battle between McLaren and Ferrari, with Norris and Oscar Piastri delivering steady results, victories, and podium finishes to secure crucial points and edge out Ferrari for the championship at the final race of the season.
Under the leadership of Zak Brown, McLaren’s resurgence has been nothing short of remarkable in the last few years. The consistent performances of both Norris and Piastri in 2024 highlight the team’s overall strength, from car development to race strategy. This championship not only symbolizes McLaren’s return to the forefront of Formula 1 challenging for the victories and title but also sets the stage for continued success in the seasons to come.
Can they repeat the same in 2025 and also clinch the driver’s title?
