As a result, things went steadily downhill for McLaren. By the time they switched to engine partner Honda in 2015, the racing team completely miscalculated. Honda was new to Formula 1 and the engine’s performance remained far behind the competition. In two of three seasons with Honda engines, McLaren finished second to last in the team championship – and ended the collaboration again after the 2017 season. The once successful racing team was on the ground.
Under the leadership of Zak Brown, who took over as CEO of McLaren in 2018, and with major investments in the technical infrastructure at the factory, the team began to reposition itself. Initially with Renault engines and since 2021 with Mercedes drives, the team began to work their way back bit by bit. After a few years in midfield, they are back at the top this season at the latest.
For a long time it even looked as if McLaren driver Lando Norris could challenge Max Verstappen for his world title this year. In the end, Verstappen and Red Bull at least prevailed in the Drivers’ World Championship.
The team ranking is completely different: After Red Bull’s weak phase in the middle of the season – the Austrians had apparently developed their car in the wrong direction and their second driver Sergio Pérez in particular was weak – the team is only in the constructors’ category with no chance of winning the title still in third place.
Mercedes, on the other hand, which won eight constructors’ titles in a row between 2014 and 2021, has been struggling with the development of its own car since the comprehensive rule changes for the 2022 season.
This is how it happens that McLaren and Ferrari, who have taken another step forward since the arrival of Frenchman Fred Vasseur as team boss for the 2023 season, suddenly find themselves at the top of the team rankings. At least for now, the old rivalry is alive again.
McLaren already looked like the sure winner and could have won the World Championship at the last race in Qatar. But a careless penalty, which Norris received while in second place and fighting for victory for failing to slow sufficiently during a yellow flag, set him back. Norris ultimately only finished in tenth place – and Ferrari made up ground.
Everything is still open before the last race. Older Formula 1 fans in particular will feel like they’ve been transported back to earlier times – and hope for a similarly exciting final race.