The Unstoppable Rise of McLaren in Modern Racing History
There were huge fears heading into this season that just like last, Red Bull and Max Verstappen would dominate all before them.
Red Bull are the owners of one of the best cars in Formula 1 history and despite the chasing pack revealing a raft of upgrades and development changes through the early part of the 2024 season it looked like those changes had been made in vain.
After Red Bull successfully won four of the first five races of the season, it looked like nothing would stop Verstappen in winning a fourth consecutive World Championship title, but as the season has gone on Verstappen’s grip on the championship lead has weakened by the race and the Dutchman now only leads by 52 points from McLaren’s Lando Norris.
As the season has progressed it is McLaren who have emerged as Red Bull’s main competitor and due to the fact that both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been able to contribute big points, McLaren have done the unthinkable and overhauled Red Bull at the top of the Constructor’s standings.
With six races left until the end of the season the race to end the year as the top driver and top team looks to be on. Here Kate Richardson takes a look at what has made McLaren one of the major forces on the F1 circuit.
Lando Norris Finally Delivers on Talent
For years and even before Lando Norris reached the heights of Formula 1 he has always been regarded as one of the sport’s brightest talents.
After making his debut for McLaren in 2019, Norris was unable to show what he could do due to the fact that for season after season his car was uncompetitive.
Despite the limitations of his car, Norris would show glimpses of his huge potential managing numerous podiums and several near misses, but this is the year where it finally came together.
Winning the first Formula 1 race of his career in Miami, Norris has become one of the most consistent drivers on the track managing to podium in Italy, Canada, Spain the UK and in Hungary. He has also been able to record further wins in both the Netherlands and Singapore.
Relishing the prospect of taking the fight to Verstappen, Norris is driving with supreme confidence and now with the wins behind him, he believes he can become Britain’s next World Champion. ‘Am I convinced I am capable of doing it? Yes. Am I convinced the team is capable of doing it? Yes. It is the mentality and ethos here. Nothing from any other side was convincing enough to make me have a proper look elsewhere. I want to be part of turning it around here.’
If he is to achieve his dream of becoming a world champion he will have to continue to be at his brilliant best. Still trailing the Dutchman by 50 points in the title race and with just six races to go, Norris has very little margin for error. However if he can keep winning, we could be in for one of the best title races in years.
Piastri Proves to be the Perfect Partner
Just like Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri’s talents have long been admired by those within the paddock and with many believing he could emulate the career path of Max Verstappen, it was McLaren who were able to get the young Aussie sensation to sign on the dotted line.
Having first appeared for the team back in 2023, Piastri was able to record his first podium for the team in Japan and since then has shown exactly why many believe he is the future of the sport.
Feeling all of the benefits of the upgraded MacLaren that both he and Norris have been able to drive ever since Norris won in Miami, Piastri has been a constant presence in and around the top of the leaderboards.
Managing to place in the top three in Monaco, Austria, Belgium and Italy, he showed that he is the man for the big occasion by capturing wins in both Azerbaijan and Hungary. His consistency has enabled MacLaren to tackle most races this season with two clear strategies and the effective performances of both of their cars has enabled them to overtake Red Bull at the top of the constructors standings.
According to MacLaren Chief, Andrea Stella topping the Constructors is just one step of the journey, but shows that the team are moving in the right direction. Speaking after Singapore, Stella stated ‘today’s result also promotes us to first in the constructors’ championship, an important milestone in our journey’.
With the end of the season in sight, MacLaren have made the decision that Piastri will need to support Norris in his efforts to win the World Championship, but make no mistake about it, if MacLaren want to win their first Constructors title since 1998, they will need Piastri to maintain his position at the top of the grid.
MacLaren Now Have a Car for Both Qualifying and Race Day
If you ask many people within the F1 industry as to who the most influential figures are, the majority will say Adrian Newey. The genius behind the current Red Bull car, Newey will be leaving to take up a new position with Aston Martin and many believe that his departure may mean that the day’s of Red Bull dominance are coming to an end.
What Newey has been able to do to his car is nothing short of exceptional. Blistering down the straights, he has been able to design a car that can reel off one quick lap, as well as keep the pace and tyres fresh throughout the length of a two hour race. With Red Bull able to design and update to keep their car in front, no other team could come close, but MacLaren has been able to emerge out of the pack.
Introducing a raft of upgrades the team has seen its car handle far better round the corners and the speed it can generate at low speeds is far faster than what they have been able to achieve in the past. Able to match the Red Bull over the course of an entire race, they have also been able to significantly improve their qualifying performance.
Now competitive on tracks that twist and turn, the current MacLaren is suited for all types of venues and circuits and there are high hopes that this version of the car will remain competitive until the end of the season.
Title Race to go Down to Wire
Although most of the bookmakers featured with mightytips.com still have Max Verstappen as the overwhelming favourite for World Championship glory, Lando Norris and MacLaren are going to push them all the way.
Stops in Austin, Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi should encourage MacLaren and their followers as the track conditions should suit and there isn’t anything to suggest that MacLaren can’t win.
It’s been a long road for MacLaren to get back to the top of the sport, but they will hope that their current path to glory will continue until the end of the season.
