McLaren celebrates F1 title: An era of triumph begins!

McLaren did it! After 26 years of drought, the British team finally secured the title in the Formula 1 Constructors' World Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The two drivers, Lando Norris (25) and Oscar Piastri (23), brought home the coveted trophy on the last racing day of the 2024 season. Norris started from pole position and won the race, while Piastri finished tenth after an incident with Max Verstappen. The competition from Ferrari had already been weakened by a grid penalty previously imposed on Charles Leclerc, so that the gap of just 21 points in the team rankings did not exist for McLaren.

The joy of the title is enormous, especially after the difficult years the team experienced. According to reports from Small newspaper McLaren suffered financial difficulties in 2020, but was able to experience an impressive renaissance thanks to the strategic leadership of managing director Zak Brown and team boss Andrea Stella. The driver duo Norris and Piastri achieved a total of six race victories this season, with Norris also securing the runner-up title in the world championship – a fantastic success for the traditional team.

Verstappen and Hamilton in focus

The last round of the year brought more exciting moments. Verstappen, second in the constructors' championship, was overtaken by Norris and Piastri after pushing Piastri off the track on the first lap and receiving a ten-second penalty. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton put in a strong performance in the farewell race for Mercedes, fighting his way to fourth place on the final Sunday of the race, overtaking his teammate George Russell. Hamilton will race for Ferrari next season after enjoying impressive success with Mercedes over the past 12 years, including six world championship titles.

McLaren's return to the top class of formula racing also brings with it a significant financial bonus. Winning the constructors' title could be worth up to $140 million, reports Hollywood Reporter. The team has regained its position as a serious competitor in racing through continued success this season, including a total of 20 podiums. An exciting year for McLaren as they re-establish their place in Formula 1 history with the constructors' title, having last won the title in 1998.