Janice R. Andrews
Now that McLaren Racing is a real threat in Formula 1, Red Bull Racing is no longer the best team in the constructors’ title. McLaren is celebrating their recent win, with Oscar Piastri taking first place and Lando Norris coming in fourth. This puts them at the top of the points for the first time since 2014, as the Singapore Grand Prix comes this Sunday.
Red Bull’s Hold on Things Ends
Red Bull and its star driver Max Verstappen have been in charge of both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships for a few years now. Since Verstappen’s first win in 2021, Red Bull has won back-to-back drivers’ championships, making it clear that they are the team to beat. Verstappen has won three drivers’ titles in a row and is currently in first place in the driver standings.
But it looks like the tide is changing. After McLaren’s great showing last weekend, Red Bull, which has been in first place in the drivers’ race since 2022, is no longer in first place. McLaren is now 20 points ahead of Red Bull, which is a big change in the F1 power structure.
The Amazing Comeback of McLaren
McLaren’s comeback is led by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, two young drivers who have done great in recent races. After Piastri’s win last weekend, McLaren was in first place. With Norris 59 points behind Verstappen in the driver standings, the team is focused on making the most of its chances.
CEO of McLaren Racing Zak Brown is full of optimism. Brown told reporters after Piastri won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, “I think we’ve got as good a shot as anyone.” Even though Brown knew it would be hard to beat Verstappen, he stressed that the team was committed to winning the more valuable builders’ title, which comes with a prize pool of about $140 million.
Orders for the team and changes in strategy
As McLaren tries to win the constructors’ title, the team is making important strategy choices. In Baku, McLaren said that for the rest of the season, Norris would be given more attention than Piastri in the driver title. It’s possible for this relationship to change, even though Piastri agreed to be Norris’s buddy.
Brown hinted at a possible switch in roles by saying that the results could change if Norris had a few bad DNFs (did not finish) and Piastri took advantage by winning more races. Brown said, “What goes around comes around,” which shows that the team is still open to changing how they do things.
Red Bull’s Problems and Ferrari’s Rise
Red Bull isn’t as strong as it used to be. Verstappen hasn’t won a race since the Spanish Grand Prix in June. Norris was able to get closer to him by finishing fifth in Baku. But Brown is also afraid of Ferrari, which is another threat. He thinks Ferrari could be an even bigger threat than Red Bull when the title goes to Singapore. Ferrari has shown a lot of speed, and on the Marina Bay Street Circuit, they will be a strong team.
This season, Red Bull hasn’t been able to keep up its pace, which has let teams like McLaren and Ferrari catch up. Between 2022 and 2023, Red Bull won 38 races. However, Sergio Perez has never won a race and Max Verstappen has only won seven races, so the battle is very tough. McLaren has used this to their advantage to take the constructors’ title from Red Bull.
The Way Andrea Stella Leads
Andrea Stella, who is the team director, is one of the main people behind McLaren’s comeback. McLaren has reached its full potential under Stella’s direction, going from a struggling middle-level team to a real title contender. Brown said that Stella was “a wonderful team boss” and that she was a key part of McLaren’s recovery.
McLaren’s reputation as one of the most popular Formula 1 teams around the world and its history of success have only helped it grow. With a long slump behind them, the team is almost back to being one of the best in F1, which will make its loyal fans very happy.
McLaren’s Goals Outside of Formula One
McLaren is focused on doing well in Formula 1, but Brown is also eager to make the team’s IndyCar program better. McLaren has had problems in IndyCar, including a shaky group of drivers this season, but Brown is still hopeful. He is sure that McLaren’s IndyCar team can get to the top of the series in the same way that the F1 team did.
Brown has big plans for McLaren that go beyond Formula One, and he wants them to be successful in all types of racing. Brown said, “I want to get the IndyCar team to where the Formula 1 team is.” This shows that he wants McLaren to be the best in more than one type of racing.
Getting ready for Singapore
All eyes are on Norris and Piastri for the Singapore Grand Prix, where McLaren is 20 points ahead in the manufacturers’ title. The Marina Bay track will test how tough and determined the team is to stay ahead of Red Bull and Ferrari.
There are still eight races left in the season, so the race for the manufacturers’ title is far from over. The title race has new life thanks to McLaren’s recent wins, and Brown’s team is ready to fight until the end. We don’t know if McLaren can beat Red Bull and become the clear winner of Formula 1, but one thing is for sure: the race for the title just got a lot more interesting.
