McLaren celebrated a significant achievement by clinching the constructors’ championship at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This triumph marks the team’s first Formula 1 title since Lewis Hamilton secured the driver’s championship in 2008 and ends a 26-year drought for the constructors’ title, which they last won in 1998 with drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard.
The Abu Dhabi race concluded with Lando Norris taking the top spot on the podium, finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Despite some challenges, including a collision that caused Oscar Piastri to crash into Max Verstappen at the start, which resulted in a penalty for Verstappen, Norris’s performance was decisive. Piastri faced further difficulties, receiving a 10-second penalty later in the race but managed to finish in 10th place. Ultimately, McLaren secured the championship by a margin of 14 points.
This victory marks McLaren’s ninth constructors’ title in its 58-year history in Formula 1, allowing them to tie Williams for second place in all-time constructors’ titles, trailing only Ferrari, which has 16.
The turning point in McLaren’s successful season was their strategic upgrades at the Miami Grand Prix, which positioned Norris and Piastri as strong contenders for victories. McLaren had taken the lead in the constructors’ standings at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in mid-September, ending Red Bull’s impressive run of 55 races at the top.
As the season drew to a close, it was evident that McLaren had established itself as a dominant force in Formula 1, with Norris being the closest competitor to Verstappen for the drivers’ title, even as he fell out of contention a couple of races ago in Las Vegas.
This championship win not only highlights McLaren’s remarkable turnaround but also instills hope for the future of the team. It serves as a testament to their resilience and commitment to excellence in racing, paving the way for what could be a new era of success for McLaren in Formula 1.