Formula 1 Racing

McLaren win F1 constructors’ championship for first time in 26 years · RaceFans

Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, McLaren, Yas Marina, 2024

McLaren has sealed its first Formula 1 constructor’s championship for 26 years in the final round of the 2024 championship.

Lando Norris’s victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix secured the title for the team.

They suffered a scare at the start of the race when Oscar Piastri, who qualified second, was immediately knocked into a spin by Max Verstappen. With the Ferraris occupying the two positions behind Norris, any problem for the leading car would have swung the championship outcome.

McLaren have sealed the ninth constructors’ championship in their history. However, it is their first constructors’ championship in 26 years, making it the first time McLaren have won the teams’ title during their drivers’ lifetimes.

They have enjoyed by far their best season for over a decade in 2024, winning six grands prix between Norris and Piastri. Despite their success and title, Norris lost the drivers’ crown to Verstappen and Red Bull, who secured it two rounds ago in Las Vegas.

McLaren’s last constructors’ title came in 1998 when Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard beat Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine over a season-long battle. Despite Hakkinen defending his drivers’ championship the following season, Ferrari won the constructors’ title in the final round.

The team’s ninth constructors’ championship sees him finally match Williams and move into joint second place in the all-time teams rankings. Ferrari remain by far the most successful team in F1 history, with 16 titles.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

During their longest championship drought in the team’s history, one of McLaren’s drivers managed to win the crown. Lewis Hamilton claimed his first title with the team in 2008, then moved to Mercedes in 2013 and won six more titles.

This is the second time in four seasons Red Bull have failed to claim the constructors’ championship despite Verstappen winning the drivers’ title. Red Bull were beaten by Mercedes in Verstappen’s first championship season in 2021, then team and driver took both titles in 2022 and 2023.

History of F1 constructors’ champions

Rank Team Championships Year/s
1 Ferrari 16 1961, 1964, 1975-77, 1979, 1982-83, 1999-2004, 2007-08
2 Williams 9 1980-81, 1986-87, 1992-93, 1994, 1996-97
2 McLaren 9 1974, 1984-85, 1988-91, 1998, 2024
4 Mercedes 8 2014-21
5 Lotus 7 1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1972-73, 1978
6 Red Bull 6 2010-13,…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at RaceFans…