Written by Meghana Sree, Edited by Dhara Dave
What’s in store this year for the 2024 World Constructors’ Champions?
Ideally for McLaren, both championships this time.
McLaren has had an incredible run of form recently — a true turn-around from their passable results prior to the 2023 season. The latest season saw them clinch six wins and 21 podiums, adding up points that bagged them the Constructors’ title ahead of their rivals.
Despite putting an end to a 26-year dry spell, all eyes will be forward going into 2025 as the Woking-based team attempts to maintain the edge over the likes of Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes.
The Drivers
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are one of the two driver lineups to remain unchanged since the previous season. It goes without saying, a fierce competition will brew between the two talents; both out to secure a maiden Formula One championship victory.
The pair claimed their first career wins in F1 last year and while their teamwork did not sour while hunting down Red Bull and Max Verstappen, things certainly did reach a boiling point.
McLaren is no stranger to fiery teammate rivalries, and if Norris and Piastri are given a car capable of winning both titles, they will be relentless in their pursuit of becoming champion.
Whether this costs the team the Constructors’ Championship or not is down to how much Piastri has sharpened his racecraft compared to his more experienced teammate.
Rest assured, Piastri will be eager to step out of the wings and give everything to take the fight to Norris, unless ‘Papaya Rules’ come into play.
Meanwhile, Norris has had the winter to reflect on his wheel-to-wheel action with Verstappen. With lessons learnt and experience to rely on, Norris will be one of the chief drivers gunning for the Drivers’ Championship.
The Car
At first glance, McLaren’s 2025 challenger is almost identical to their 2024-winning car. However, under the papaya paint and anthracite accents, there have been significant aerodynamic improvements made to the MCL39 compared to its predecessors.
Speaking about their 2025 car, McLaren CEO Zak Brown stated: “We believe we have made further steps forward since the Championship-winning MCL38 but we won’t know where we sit in the standings until we get into Qualifying in Australia.”
The MCL39 hit the track for the first time in Silverstone early in February, splashed in a one-off dazzle camo livery, part of the filming day allowances for each team.
Team Expectations
Although McLaren emerged victorious in 2024, it was not without bumps in the road. One of the strongest points of criticism last season was their inability to prioritise drivers and attack with competitive strategies.
The team will be eager to resolve these challenges this year, and seem confident in building upon their successes.
With the grid tighter than ever, McLaren are all set to hit the ground running in Australia, Piastri’s home race.
Commenting on the close competition, Norris shared: “I’m looking forward to it, because I think it’s not going to be just a fight of the usual guys. It’s going to be a bit different this year... maybe not at the very beginning, but certainly through the season, we’ll see it shake up a little bit more.
“There are things I definitely need to tighten up but the main thing that’s going to change this year is we need more points at the beginning and that will change the fight ahead.”
Piastri shares similar sentiments: “The margins at the top are likely to be incredibly tight but I’m excited by the room for growth after two seasons in the sport. Winning Grands Prix early in my career has given me the taste for success and I want much more.”
With two strong drivers sharing a competitive car, McLaren are gearing up for one of the most important seasons for the team. Their targets are clear and momentum is high. All that remains is assembling all their strengths to execute a flawless season.
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