In a journey that reads like a Formula 1 fairy tale, McLaren has completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in motorsport history. After years in the wilderness, the team clinched its first Constructors’ Championship since 1998, crowning a decade-long odyssey with Lando Norris’s dominant victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
This victory didn’t just mark a return to glory—it symbolized the culmination of resilience, belief, and sheer determination. Andrea Stella, McLaren’s Team Principal, reflected on the seismic transformation, noting how far the team has come since its darkest days in 2015.
“When I joined McLaren in 2015, we were five seconds off the pace in Q1 at Australia,” Stella revealed to select media. “We were effectively at the back of the grid. To now, in 2024, standing here as champions, it feels like we’ve come full circle. It’s been a journey defined by belief, resilience, and the willingness to change.”
The Road to Redemption
McLaren’s fall from grace was stark. Once a powerhouse of F1, the team had become synonymous with underperformance and unfulfilled potential. However, the seeds of recovery were planted with the arrival of Zak Brown as CEO and the restructuring of the team’s leadership. Investments were poured into infrastructure, personnel, and long-term vision.
“Zak Brown and our shareholders put their faith in change,” Stella said. “They believed in the need to rebuild not just our car, but our culture. They gave us the resources and trust to make this transformation possible.”
From state-of-the-art facilities to a reimagined management structure, McLaren slowly began to claw its way back to competitiveness. The culmination of this effort was evident in the 2024 season, with the MCL38 emerging as the car to beat and Norris leading the charge with consistency and brilliance.
Unlocking the Power of People
Central to McLaren’s resurgence has been its people—a 1,000-strong workforce operating at peak efficiency. Stella praised the team’s relentless drive to improve, emphasizing that success at this level requires more than just technological advancements.
“The final piece of this puzzle came from unlocking the full potential of our people,” he explained. “When 1,000 individuals operate at a high level, aligned toward a single goal, the results can be extraordinary. This title is as much theirs as it is Lando’s or the team’s.”
Stella acknowledged that the scale of progress might be hard for outsiders to grasp but insisted it was this human element that elevated McLaren back to the top.
“You cannot achieve this level of performance and reliability without every person delivering at their very best,” he said. “It’s been incredible to witness this rapid evolution over the past decade.”
A Legacy in the Making
For McLaren, the 2024 Constructors’ Championship is not an endpoint but the beginning of a new era. The team has proven it can overcome adversity, and now it aims to remain at the pinnacle of Formula 1.
“We don’t see this as the finish line,” Stella declared. “This is just the starting point for a new chapter of dominance. The hard work continues, and we are ready for what the future holds.”
The Norris Factor
Lando Norris, the face of McLaren’s resurgence, embodied the team’s grit and determination throughout the season. His victory in Abu Dhabi wasn’t just a win for McLaren but a statement of intent for the future.
“You all deserve this,” Norris radioed to his team after crossing the finish line. “Thank you so much. It’s been a special year, and next year, it’s going to be my year too.”
The Final Word
McLaren’s journey from 2015 to 2024 is one of modern Formula 1’s most inspiring stories. From the depths of despair to the heights of championship glory, it is a testament to resilience, belief, and the power of people working together for a common goal.
As the champagne flows and the celebrations continue, one thing is clear: McLaren is back where it belongs—on top of the Formula 1 world. And this time, it’s determined to stay.
