What Has Made McLaren So Successful Over The Last 12 Months?

Car Performance

Red Bull boss Christian Horner praised the MCL 39 design, stating that it’s a “very well-balanced car.” McLaren had to overhaul their technical leadership team in 2023 to achieve the best car in Formula 1. The car is fast on the straights, and the weight savings and increased stiffness enhanced downforce creation for greater handling around corners.

Speed

After two rounds, Lando Norris is the proud owner of two fastest lap awards, further evidence of this engine’s pace. Fastest laps aside, McLaren has claimed both pole positions this season, courtesy of Lando in Melbourne and Oscar in Shanghai.

The only time the MCL 39 looked suspect was during the sprint qualifying at the Chinese GP. Lando qualified sixth, while Oscar handled the car better to qualify third. 

Balance

Adding to Christian Horner’s remarks, the MCL 39 handles corners cleanly, thanks to additional stiffness in the underfloor. The engineers also shaved off ounces in other parts of the vehicle to allow for more weight in the underfloor.

There was some concern about the balance of the car after the sprint qualifying and race, where Lando Norris struggled. However, this has more to do with Norris’ aggressive style, where he brakes late into corners, allowing him to attack on the entry.

The passive nature of the front of the car created excessive understeer into the corner. Proving challenging for Norris to control. After some tweaks from his team, he rebounded to finish second in the Grand Prix on Sunday.

Rear Tire Performance

Rear tire performance on cars from the Woking garage last longer than any other team on the circuit. The Australian Grand Prix gave us a glimpse of rear tire endurance on the F1, which will come in handy throughout the campaign.

The Shanghai International Race Circuit is an anomaly on the calendar, as it punishes front tires more than rears. It explains some of Lando’s troubles in sprint qualifying, where his front wheels locked up into the turn and he lost valuable time, eventually finishing eighth.

Aerodynamics

McLaren’s design team has upped the ante on the rear aerodynamics. Naturally, drag is reduced on the straight and will continue to contribute to the fastest lap times and pole positions. Speed aside, the aerodynamics bolster the balance of the MCL 39, transferring greater downforce on the rear when entering corners.

Team

The British outfit has successfully constructed a motivating environment, where the entire team is driven by a common goal to succeed. Neil Houldey, McLaren’s technical director explains that the  mindset at the factory has shifted over the last year from “Can we do this,” to “Let’s do this.”

Every member of the McLaren team contributes to their dominance, but let’s look at a few individuals who are pivotal to their Constructors’ title defense.

Rob Marshall

Behind the scenes at the Woking factory, Rob Marshall has proven pivotal in McLaren’s success. Marshall is no stranger to F1 success, helping Renault to their first Constructors’ and Drivers Championship as their Head of Mechanical Design. It was at Renault that he developed the mass damper system.

After guiding Renault to glory, Rob hopped over to Red Bull and notched up eight Drivers and six Constructors’ Championships between 2006 and 2024. He made an immediate impact at McLaren upon his arrival last year, apparently giving the management an abundance of suggestions to make marginal gains on his first day. The advice paid off and carried the team to their first Constructors’ title since 1998 when Mika Häkkinen won his first Championship.

Lando Norris

Lando Norris is pivotal to McLaren’s vision as their number one driver. The Briton offers the team an air of experience, competing in his seventh season behind the wheel. Besides experience, Norris has stepped onto the podium 28 times, returning to Victory Lane on five occasions.

Oscar Piastri

Australian Oscar Piastri is often overshadowed by his higher-profile teammate. However, he isn’t sitting back and waiting for Lando to carry the team, showing that he too is in this sport to win. Piastri is in his third season of F1 this year and already has 11 podiums and three wins under the hood.

Final Thoughts

Thousands of nuts and bolts need to align to win a Formula 1 Drivers or Constructors’ title, and McLaren knows how to execute the plan. The 2024 Constructors’ Champions have started their title defense strong this year, but they are after more silverware this season, specifically the elusive Drivers title. Lewis Hamilton was the last McLaren driver to win the title, earning the honor in 2008.

The skill of Lando and Oscar, coupled with the speed, balance, and aerodynamics of the MCL 39, make the British outfit a lethal threat in all races this season. We expect to see their vehicles improve throughout the campaign, courtesy of their innovative, experienced design and engineering team, who have constructed the most balanced vehicle for 2025.