As a long-time F1 enthusiast with memories of McLaren’s last triumph in 1998 still vivid, witnessing the team’s comeback under Zak Brown’s leadership has been nothing short of exhilarating! Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, two promising young talents, have not only proven their mettle but have also brought a sense of fresh energy to the McLaren family.
McLaren’s 26-year wait for a Formula 1 Constructors’ title has officially come to an end.
On Sunday, Lando Norris (age 25) and Oscar Piastri (age 23), members of our team, secured the trophy for us by keeping our lead over Ferrari throughout the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which marked the end of the 2024 racing season. In other words, they brought home the victory for the papaya family!
On Saturday, Norris clinched the top spot during Qualifying and eventually emerged victorious in the race. As for Piastri, who lined up next to his teammate on the starting grid for the final event, he ended up finishing in 10th place due to an early collision with Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing.
Despite McLaren only leading Ferrari by 21 points in the Constructors’ standings, it proved challenging for drivers Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc to take the lead, especially considering Ferrari faced obstacles even before the race began, with Leclerc receiving a 10-place grid penalty. However, on Sunday, both Ferrari drivers managed to reach the podium; Sainz (who is leaving for Williams Racing next year) secured second place, while Leclerc finished in third.
On Sunday, seven-time Formula One World Driver’s Champion Lewis Hamilton, racing with Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team for the final time before joining Ferrari next year, managed to pass his teammate, George Russell, during the last lap of the race, securing himself a fourth-place finish.
McLaren last clinched the Formula One Constructors’ Championship back in 1998, thanks to drivers Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard. But since Zak Brown took over as CEO of McLaren Racing in 2018, he’s been working hard to help the team regain its former glory, alongside team principal Andrea Stella.
In 2019, Norris became part of McLaren, marking his Formula One debut with them. On the other hand, Piastri joined McLaren as a reserve driver in 2022 and made his F1 debut with them that year. After experiencing some highs and lows for several years, the team rebounded strongly this season. This resurgence led to both Norris and Piastri achieving their first Formula One victories at the Miami Grand Prix (Norris) and Hungarian Grand Prix (Piastri), respectively.
In total, McLaren achieved 20 podium finishes this year. Lando Norris secured first place in four different races during the season, while Oscar Piastri was on the top step of the podium twice.
Earlier this season, Norris had a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter and looked back on all his achievements this year with the team.
Despite finishing three, four, or five races, he admitted, ‘We’ve still got a lot left on our plate.’ However, he proudly shared, ‘We put in the hard work and saw tremendous improvements across many aspects of our performance. This year, we became the most competitive team. But let me tell you, it doesn’t get any simpler; if anything, it gets harder because we’re now racing against seasoned veterans who have held these top positions for a longer time.’
The Constructors’ position carries a substantial monetary incentive for teams, as reported by The Associated Press. Although the exact amount can fluctuate, it generally amounts to approximately $140 million.
Earlier this season, Verstappen also won his fourth World Drivers’ Championship.
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2024-12-08 17:54