McLaren won the 2024 F1 Constructors’ Championship, their first in 26 years, with Lando Norris clinching victory in Abu Dhabi. They surpassed Ferrari and broke the 14-year dominance of Red Bull and Mercedes.
The 2024 Formula 1 season has come to an end. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marked the final race of the calendar, and Lando Norris’s victory not only sealed the event but also delivered McLaren its first Constructors’ Championship in 26 years.
While Norris’s individual victory was symbolic, given that Max Verstappen had already secured the Drivers’ Championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the triumph was celebrated by the entire McLaren team. It marked the end of a title drought that had lasted since 1998.
McLaren Ends Red Bull and Mercedes Dominance
This championship put an end to the dominance Red Bull and Mercedes had held in Formula 1 since 2010. During this 14-year period, Mercedes won eight consecutive titles (from 2014 to 2021), while Red Bull claimed six titles (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022, and 2023).
McLaren earned their ninth Constructors’ Championship, tying with Williams for second place in the historical standings, though still far behind Ferrari, which holds the record with 16 championships.
Ferrari Came Close
Ferrari, McLaren’s direct rivals, gave a strong fight. In the final Grand Prix of 2024, Carlos Sainz finished second and Charles Leclerc third, completing the podium. Despite their efforts, the British team finished first in the standings with 666 points, while Ferrari ended the season with 652 points.
The Moment That Changed the Season
There’s no doubt that McLaren’s performance this season was a surprise. At the start of the year, they were not considered contenders for the championship. However, everything changed at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where the strong performances of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, combined with Red Bull’s poor results, allowed McLaren to take the lead in the Constructors’ standings—a position they never relinquished.
Images: X (@McLarenF1)
