McLaren, a customer of Mercedes PU, has emerged as a contender for race victories in 2024. Oscar Piastri of McLaren argues that being a works team in Formula 1 is no longer necessary to win. The 2024 season has seen Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren all take victories, with McLaren being powered by Mercedes engines. Despite being a customer team, McLaren has been one of the strongest performers, achieving 10 consecutive podium finishes. They even had an advantage over their engine supplier, Mercedes, before the F1 summer break and currently lead them by 100 points in the Constructors’ standings.
Piastri expressed his belief that a works team is not essential for success in F1. He acknowledged that there are still advantages to being a works team, such as developing and fitting the engine to the car according to their preferences. However, in the cost cap era of F1, the significance of being a works team has decreased. Piastri believes that a customer team can still put up a strong fight. McLaren’s strong performance has placed them second in the Constructors’ standings, trailing Red Bull by 42 points. They have outscored the championship leaders in the last four rounds of the season.
Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin also shared his thoughts on customer teams during the press conference at the Hungaroring. While Piastri enjoys the benefits of a customer engine, Alonso does not have the same luxury. Aston Martin initially showed promise at the start of the 2023 season, with Alonso achieving six podium finishes in the first eight races. However, the team has since regressed and currently sits fifth in the Constructors’ standings during the F1 summer break. Alonso believes there are still downsides to not being a works team. However, he also acknowledges that with the budget cap, customer teams can compete for victories. He emphasizes that the regulations have made everything more regulated.
Photo from Oscar Piastri Instagram
