McLaren’s recent dominance is something motorsport fans are going to have to get used to– because this wasn't a fluke. It was years in the making. Carefully orchestrated. But things looked very different, not long ago. If you’re a dedicated F1 fan or familiar with the earlier season of DTS, you will know of the seasons of struggle McLaren had faced.
Between 2015-2017, the papayas became a muddy colour with their worst performances played on the screens and tracks. Deciding to get back with their Ex, Honda (never a great idea), they hoped to revive the glory days they had with Honda’s engines. Alas, they finished 9th in the constructors championship and won grid penalties and retirements instead. The relationship between Honda and McLaren increasingly became strained and eventually parted ways following these disastrous seasons.
And, like a domino effect, sponsorships and brands kept their distance, starving the papayas from investments and improvements.
This hunger fuelled more hunger to overcome the embarrassing seasons this elite team has faced. And it started with bringing in Zak Brown who really turned things around for McLaren– performance and branding wise!
In an upward but slow trajectory, McLaren, partnered with Renalult allowing them to finish 6th in the constructors championship in 2018, then 4th the following year with their new signings Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr.
2019 was also the year Sainz gave them a podium after 5 years.
After a painful 2022 season, McLaren began their reinvention causing transformative changes to occur mid season. This included aerodynamic upgrades by Andrea Stella targeting key weaknesses and promoting efficiency for performance. The MCL60 was designed in a way where porpoising was reduced, more air generated in the front wings allowing sharp turns at very high speeds. More control meant more confidence for the drivers, and the dice kept rolling with McLaren's surge in points.
Wins and podiums followed and for the first time since 1998, McLaren won the F1 World Constructors Championship in 2024.
Now, the refined MCL39 paired with the Norris and Piastri has achieved the wins, podiums, and championship contender we see today. McLaren are no longer chasing titles, they are leading– both in the constructors championship and Driver’s Championships.
This is no ordinary feat — it’s a story carefully written and precisely engineered, turning the Papayas into relentless winners, podium regulars, and true title contenders.
