McLaren is on the verge of winning the F1 constructors’ title for
the first time since 1998, but the British outfit is also close to
throwing away an incredible season. Turn back the clock to the
2023 Bahrain Grand Prix – the season-opener of last season – where
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri qualified in 11th and 19th,
respectively. The Woking-based team has undergone an extraordinary
transformation since that disastrous day, which all started in
Austria last year, where a B-spec car was introduced as part of a
huge upgrade package. Since that race at the Red Bull Ring,
McLaren’s upward trajectory has been unmatched, propelling the
outfit to the top of this season’s constructors’ championship. Red
Bull has been overthrown by the British team in the constructors’
championship, while Ferrari has also overtaken it on the points
tally board. McLaren has largely possessed the strongest car on the
grid across the last several events – but as is being witnessed,
that does not guarantee title success. Strategic errors, a fear of
introducing team orders and Norris’ mistakes have cost McLaren
crucial points, which have already all but ended the 24-year-old’s
chances in the F1 drivers’ title. Mathematically, Norris can still
win the title, but with a 62-point advantage with three races
remaining, it is Max Verstappen’s championship to lose.
Constructors’ title focus McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has
insisted throughout the current campaign that the goal has always
been the constructors’ title, not the drivers’. There is evidence
of this, particularly in McLaren’s initial unwillingness to
prioritise Norris over Piastri, as seen at the Hungaroring and at
Monza, two races where valuable points were dropped by the Briton.
It feels like McLaren never really took Norris’ chances against
Verstappen seriously, or at least until it was too late ahead of
the recent Americas triple-header. McLaren, in both championships,
squandered on Red Bull’s struggles, with a number of signs emerging
of late that the Milton Keynes-based team are making small strides
back in the right direction. The triple-header was far from smooth
for McLaren, whilst the likes of Ferrari pounced on its issues.
Norris and Verstappen tangled in both Austin and Mexico City,
before making a series of errors which saw him finish sixth in São
Paulo after starting on pole. Piastri, too, had a triple-header to
forget, and averaged 8.3 points per race. Whilst McLaren were
faltering, Ferrari were thriving, with a one-two in Austin, and a
one-three in Mexico City. Of course, Verstappen’s recovery from
17th on the grid to win the São Paulo Grand Prix has also kept Red
Bull in title contention, with a miraculous double still being in
reach. In fact, across the recent triple-header, McLaren scored
just eight points more than Red Bull, whilst Ferrari were the clear
winners. See the points scored across the triple-header below…
Points scored across American triple-header The final hurdle
McLaren’s big challenge is to get over the final hurdle and secure
a first constructors’ title since 1998. To do that, it must lift
itself from the shortcomings it has endured lately. Ferrari scored
39 points more than McLaren in the last three races and are now
just 36 points adrift. A repeat performance would secure the
Maranello-based team the title. Red Bull is less of a threat,
unless Sergio Perez suddenly finds some remarkable form. With
Norris’ drivers’ title hopes effectively being over, McLaren must
take a step back and re-focus for the final triple-header. That
could mean putting an end to the British driver being prioritised
and instead put the team first, even if it is Piastri in front.
McLaren is so close to ending an almost three-decade run of not
winning the constructors’ title, the pressure is now at its highest
to get over the finish line. If it does, then it could propel the
outfit into next season, where it would find itself as favourites
to defend its crown.
the first time since 1998, but the British outfit is also close to
throwing away an incredible season. Turn back the clock to the
2023 Bahrain Grand Prix – the season-opener of last season – where
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri qualified in 11th and 19th,
respectively. The Woking-based team has undergone an extraordinary
transformation since that disastrous day, which all started in
Austria last year, where a B-spec car was introduced as part of a
huge upgrade package. Since that race at the Red Bull Ring,
McLaren’s upward trajectory has been unmatched, propelling the
outfit to the top of this season’s constructors’ championship. Red
Bull has been overthrown by the British team in the constructors’
championship, while Ferrari has also overtaken it on the points
tally board. McLaren has largely possessed the strongest car on the
grid across the last several events – but as is being witnessed,
that does not guarantee title success. Strategic errors, a fear of
introducing team orders and Norris’ mistakes have cost McLaren
crucial points, which have already all but ended the 24-year-old’s
chances in the F1 drivers’ title. Mathematically, Norris can still
win the title, but with a 62-point advantage with three races
remaining, it is Max Verstappen’s championship to lose.
Constructors’ title focus McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has
insisted throughout the current campaign that the goal has always
been the constructors’ title, not the drivers’. There is evidence
of this, particularly in McLaren’s initial unwillingness to
prioritise Norris over Piastri, as seen at the Hungaroring and at
Monza, two races where valuable points were dropped by the Briton.
It feels like McLaren never really took Norris’ chances against
Verstappen seriously, or at least until it was too late ahead of
the recent Americas triple-header. McLaren, in both championships,
squandered on Red Bull’s struggles, with a number of signs emerging
of late that the Milton Keynes-based team are making small strides
back in the right direction. The triple-header was far from smooth
for McLaren, whilst the likes of Ferrari pounced on its issues.
Norris and Verstappen tangled in both Austin and Mexico City,
before making a series of errors which saw him finish sixth in São
Paulo after starting on pole. Piastri, too, had a triple-header to
forget, and averaged 8.3 points per race. Whilst McLaren were
faltering, Ferrari were thriving, with a one-two in Austin, and a
one-three in Mexico City. Of course, Verstappen’s recovery from
17th on the grid to win the São Paulo Grand Prix has also kept Red
Bull in title contention, with a miraculous double still being in
reach. In fact, across the recent triple-header, McLaren scored
just eight points more than Red Bull, whilst Ferrari were the clear
winners. See the points scored across the triple-header below…
Points scored across American triple-header The final hurdle
McLaren’s big challenge is to get over the final hurdle and secure
a first constructors’ title since 1998. To do that, it must lift
itself from the shortcomings it has endured lately. Ferrari scored
39 points more than McLaren in the last three races and are now
just 36 points adrift. A repeat performance would secure the
Maranello-based team the title. Red Bull is less of a threat,
unless Sergio Perez suddenly finds some remarkable form. With
Norris’ drivers’ title hopes effectively being over, McLaren must
take a step back and re-focus for the final triple-header. That
could mean putting an end to the British driver being prioritised
and instead put the team first, even if it is Piastri in front.
McLaren is so close to ending an almost three-decade run of not
winning the constructors’ title, the pressure is now at its highest
to get over the finish line. If it does, then it could propel the
outfit into next season, where it would find itself as favourites
to defend its crown.