Can McLaren win the World Championship? McLaren’s fortune with the Hybrid Era has been full of highs and lows. In the 2024 season, the Papaya-coloured team has displayed a dangerous amount of difficulty to the title defenders. Red Bull Racing. As the Formula 1 season awaits its eager return from the summer break, the Woking team has closed the gap down to just 42 points.
In an action-packed season, McLaren says that Red Bull’s run of form will not be another clean sweep. There will be another challenge to contend with, potentially towards the end of the season. We will have to find out.
But for now, let us take a look at McLaren’s road across the hybrid era and their journey through their highs and lows. To what could be their first championship.
McLaren: Dark Age (2014-2018)
2014 Season
The story began in 2014 when F1 introduced the hybrid power era. For McLaren, this was the start of a downward spiral. Despite having Mercedes engines—the most powerful on the grid—McLaren struggled with the new technology. Even though, Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button finished second and third in the opening race of the season. But carrying that momentum forward became an impossibility.
As the drivers could not get back on the podium after Australia. The team’s performance was lacklustre, and they finished a disappointing fifth in the Constructors’ Championship; with 181 points. For a team used to fighting at the front, this was a hard pill to swallow. As Williams, an underdog team finished third in the constructors, rubbing more salt in the wounds for McLaren.
2015 Season – McLaren Rekindle with Honda
In 2015, McLaren boldly revived its legendary partnership with Honda, hoping to rekindle the magic of the late 1980s. However, a trip down memory lane, believing Honda is taking care of the power unit and McLaren is taking care of the MP4-30 so that the two can come together in harmony, is not a dynamic that should’ve been made appropriate.
The Honda power units were severely underpowered and plagued by reliability issues, leading to numerous retirements and frustration. The season ended with McLaren in ninth place, their worst finish since 1980. Even with Fernando Alonso—a double world champion—returning to the team, the partnership with Honda was a disaster. And his (and McLaren’s) best finish was only fifth at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
And to make Alonso’s emotions abundantly clear, the Spaniard relayed his thoughts on the Honda Powered McLaren in Japan later that year:
2016 Season
McLaren’s 2016 Formula 1 season was another harrowing chapter in the team’s history as they struggled with their partnership with Honda. After a disastrous 2015, hopes were cautiously optimistic, but the season proved challenging. The Honda power unit remained underpowered and unreliable, limiting McLaren’s competitiveness.
McLaren saw a slight upward trajectory in the performance of the MP4-31. But was it enough to claim podium spots? No. Overall, the team scored 76 points saw them achieve sixth place in the constructors. For their Spaniard driver, the two-time champion managed to replicate McLaren’s best finish not once but twice. They were finishing fifth in Monaco and the United States.
2017 Season
The 2017 Formula 1 season was particularly challenging for McLaren, as the team struggled with the ongoing difficulties in their partnership with Honda. After a slight improvement in 2016, there was hope that McLaren could build on that progress, but the reality of the 2017 season was far bleaker.
The McLaren, now known as the MCL32, powered by Honda’s RA617H engine, was again plagued by persistent reliability issues and a severe lack of power. The engine’s fragility led to numerous retirements and poor qualifying performances throughout the season. Fernando Alonso grew increasingly frustrated with the uncompetitive machinery, while Stoffel Vandoorne struggled to make an impact in his first full season with McLaren. The team finished ninth in the constructors with only 30 points to their tally.
2018 Season
2018 McLaren switched to Renault engines, hoping for a fresh start. While the switch did bring some improvements, with the team finishing sixth in the Constructors’ standings, it was clear that the issues ran deeper. The car’s chassis and aerodynamics were not up to the mark, and McLaren had to face the harsh reality that it was not just the engine holding them back.
This period led the Woking team to self-reflect, embark on a restructuring journey, bring in new leadership, and focus on rebuilding from the ground up with Éric Boullier as the Team Principal who joined in 2017. However, no success stemmed from Boullier’s leadership. So, their restructuring aspirations went from hopeful to bleak. Again, McLaren would have to look elsewhere to recuperate and find resolve in creating success again.
McLaren: Ascent Out of the Darkness (2019-2021)
2019 Season
2019 marked a turning point. With Andreas Seidl as the new team principal and James Key as technical director, McLaren began to find its footing again. The team secured fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship with 145 points, a major leap forward. Carlos Sainz and rookie Lando Norris formed a formidable and charismatic driver pairing, capturing fans’ hearts. Sainz’s podium finish in Brazil—the team’s first in five years—signalled that McLaren was on the road to recovery.
And for the rookie, Lando Norris, who also impressed, scored 49 points in his debut season. With his best finish around Bahrain and Austria, finishing sixth place. A new roster of drivers and team personnel emphasised to rival teams that McLaren was beginning an ascent to become a formidable opponent to compete with on track.
2020 Season
The upward trend continued in 2020. Despite a global pandemic creating a halt to track action. The pause did not stop McLaren from showing their presence at the first race of the season starting in Austria. Lando Norris had to finish within five seconds of Lewis Hamilton to achieve his first podium by 0.198 of a second in Formula 1.
McLaren clinched third place in the Constructors’ standings, their best finish in nearly a decade. The team’s progress was evident, with Sainz and Norris delivering consistent, strong performances. The turnaround was not just about better results—it was about the team rediscovering its identity and spirit.
2021 Season
In 2021, they made another strategic move, switching back to Mercedes engines. This decision paid off handsomely. The season’s highlight came at the Italian Grand Prix, where Daniel Ricciardo led a stunning 1-2 finish for McLaren, with Norris close behind. It was the team’s first victory since 2012, a moment of triumph that felt like a long-awaited homecoming.
By the end of 2021, The team had firmly reestablished itself as a top contender. The journey from 2014 to 2021 was anything but smooth. But it was defined by resilience, a refusal to give up, and a relentless drive to return to the top. McLaren’s resurgence was not just a comeback but a statement that this iconic team was back and ready to fight for its place among the elite in Formula 1.
McLaren Goes 1 Step Back to 2 Steps Forward
2022 Season
McLaren’s performance in the 2022 Formula 1 season was a mix of challenges and modest successes, reflecting a year of transition and adaptation. The team entered the season with high hopes, following a strong 2021 campaign where they finished fourth in the Constructors’ Championship and even secured a race victory. However, 2022 brought new technical regulations, significantly altering the design of the cars and shaking up the competitive order.
The season they started poorly for McLaren, with the team struggling to adapt to the new regulations. The MCL36 car suffered from a lack of pace. Which severely hampered their performance in the opening rounds. Despite these setbacks, McLaren showed resilience and gradually improved throughout the season.
Lando Norris continued to impress, consistently outperforming the car’s limitations and securing the team’s only podium finish in Imola. His steady performances kept McLaren in the fight for fourth place in the Constructors’ standings. Daniel Ricciardo, however, struggled to match Norris’s pace, contributing to a less consistent points haul for the team.
By the end of the season, McLaren finished fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, narrowly losing out to Alpine in their battle for fourth. While the season fell short of their expectations, McLaren’s 2022 campaign was marked by resilience and the foundation for future improvement as they navigated the challenges of a new era in Formula 1.
2023 Season
McLaren’s performance in the 2023 Formula 1 season was a tale of recovery and progress after a challenging start. The season began on a difficult note, with the MCL60 struggling for pace and consistency, leading to disappointing results in the opening rounds. The car’s initial aerodynamic package proved a significant weakness, leaving the team trailing in the midfield and far from their desired position near the front of the grid.
However, McLaren’s fortunes began to change mid-season, thanks to a series of significant upgrades introduced from the Austrian Grand Prix onward. These updates dramatically improved the car’s performance, transforming McLaren into one of the season’s strongest teams in the latter half. They showed their prowess one race later at the British Grand Prix, fighting with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for the lead. Lando Norris emerged as the team’s leading driver, consistently securing podium finishes and challenging for top positions. His performances highlighted the potential of the upgraded MCL60, making him a regular contender in the top five.
Oscar Piastri, in his rookie season, also impressed by delivering strong results, including a remarkable sprint race victory in Qatar and a podium finish in Japan. His contributions further solidified McLaren’s resurgence.
By the end of the season, They had clawed their way back to fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, with 302 points showcasing the team’s resilience and ability to develop its car effectively during the season. The 2023 campaign marked a significant step forward, reestablishing McLaren as a force to be reckoned with and setting the stage for future success.
McLaren 2024 Season: Start to a Golden Age?
McLaren has come out of the gates of the 2024 season with a competitive car. But it wasn’t until the Miami Grand Prix that McLaren showed just how dangerous the MCL38 truly is. After pitting a lap later, Lando gained track advantage from Max Verstappen and put on a new set of Hard tyres. A strategic decision that gave Norris the victory. His first ever taste of the top step of the podium in Formula 1.
The American spark on Woking team form has made them a solid contender for the constructors championship, closing the gap down to just 42 points with ten races to go. Red Bull’s chances of making a defence are down under two dilemmas: Oscar Piastri and their driver, Sergio Perez.
With the help of team orders, Oscar Piastri also lifted the trophy to the top step of the podium at the Hungarian Grand Prix. In contrast, Perez scored only 28 points in the last eight races. This means both drivers from the Woking team are charging for competitive points. Only one driver at Red Bull is achieving glory, while the other is struggling to clinch points.
But will this momentum for McLaren be enough to clinch the constructors’ championship? The last constructors’ title wasn’t claimed since the 1998 Formula 1 season.
If you would like to learn more news about the world of Formula 1? Then why not check out “Kick Sauber: One Seat Left at the Green Team” or “The German Grand Prix: Will F1 Make a Return?”
Image Credit: Deposit Photos
