Spirits are high at McLaren F1 heading into the summer break
McLaren enters the summer shutdown as perhaps the hottest team in Formula 1. Over the past eight race weekends, they have totaled 242 points, most from any F1 team since the Miami Grand Prix, and that run of form has seen them pull to within 42 points of Red Bull atop the Constructors’ Championship standings. That means it is technically possible — albeit unlikely — that when the grid returns to action later this month at the Dutch Grand Prix they can leapfrog Red Bull into the top spot.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris continues his pursuit of Max Verstappen in the F1 Drivers’ Championship, as he sits 78 points behind his friend and rival. Not to be outdone is the recent surge from Oscar Piastri, as his win at the Hungarian Grand Prix coupled with a P2 at Spa have vaulted him into fourth in that race.
This strong run of form has opened up questions regarding how McLaren will handle the closing stretch of the season. Will they prioritize Norris’ pursuit of Verstappen? Focus solely on the Constructors’ title?
“Why not both?” is the message from the team at this time.
Speaking with Sky Sports on Thursday Norris, Piastri, and McLaren CEO Zak Brown addressed their first half of the season, and Brown outlined how they are aiming at both titles over the rest of the season because success in one chase carries over to the other.
“Oh, they’re both priorities because ultimately to win the Constructors’, we need our two drivers to be as high up as possible,” said Brown. “I’d like to see both drivers in the top three. We’ve got second and fourth right now, and the closer we get to the Drivers’, the closer that’ll get us to the Constructors’.
“So, we’re going for both because, you know, all points count.”
For his part, Piastri outlined how his focus is on the Constructors’, and opened the door to perhaps helping his teammate should Norris close in on Verstappen over the latter part of the season.
“I think the first objective is to win the Constructors’ for the team. I think we’ve got a very strong chance of, doing that. We’ve been closing the gap to Red Bull in, you know, the last six or seven races,” began Piastri. “I think for me the Drivers’ standings, of course, I would like to finish as high as I can. I’m, you know, not out of the running for the Championship myself.
“Of course it’s a very tough, big ask but I wanted to string together good races, build consistency on that front, and really help the team to win the Constructors’. If it comes to a situation where I need to help Lando later in the year, then of course, it’s something we’ll discuss,” continued the Australian driver. “Bun the first target is [to] win the Constructors’ and try and do a good job for myself as well.”
Piastri also noted the stunning turnaround from the team over the past 18 months, mirroring comments he made to me following his strong second-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix.
“I don’t think many of us ever dreamed of winning races, you know, especially 18 months on from how we started last season. So, yeah, pretty remarkable turnaround to say the least,” described Piastri. “And it’s been a real pleasure to be a part of it. So yeah, I think the extent of the successes maybe surprised us a little bit, but it’s always a nice surprise when you’re winning more trophies than you thought.”
In a video shared by the team on social media Team Principal Andrea Stella also made the case that “McLaren in both championships is a serious contender for the final victory:”
A message from Andrea. pic.twitter.com/1xQP19FYCh
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) August 1, 2024
Brown echoed that sentiment.
“Drivers, team, everyone’s done a wonderful job. To [win] podiums in a row is pretty awesome. To be competing for the Drivers’ and the Constructors’ World Championship? It was a pretty cool place to be, coming into the summer break,” said Brown.
“So a lot of work yet to do, it’s not gonna be easy because it looks like the top four teams are all, you know, one day it’s first, one day it’s fourth, one day it’s second, one day it’s third.
“So it’s gonna be an exciting second part of the year.
“But, I’m very happy with everything that’s been accomplished here at McLaren.”
