McLaren has reached a total of 184 points so far in the 2024 F1 season. The team’s performance has been highly commendable, as they have already accumulated this impressive score in just eight races. Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri, and Lando Norris have expressed their admiration for McLaren, with Hamilton being particularly passionate about the team since his departure in 2012. Hamilton remains the last world champion to have been crowned under the McLaren name, achieving this feat in the 2008 F1 season.
Over the past ten years, McLaren has been considered a mid-field team, lacking the ability to fiercely compete for driver and constructor championships. However, this season has seen a significant improvement in their performance, indicating that they are now a formidable force in the sport. Hamilton believes that McLaren’s success has motivated other teams on the grid to work harder and improve their own performance. The team’s ability to challenge teams like Red Bull and Ferrari has been inspiring to others, proving that closing the gap to the leaders is achievable with dedication and determination.
Helmut Marko, Technical Consultant at Red Bull, has acknowledged the progress made by McLaren and Ferrari, attributing it to the influence of Red Bull’s developments. Marko suggests that, during the third year of the current regulations, it is common for teams to replicate successful strategies from their competitors. McLaren and Ferrari have evidently done an exceptional job in implementing these strategies, leading to their improved performance.
Currently, Ferrari is only 24 points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ championship, while McLaren sits in third place with a 96-point gap to the leaders. The upcoming races of the season promise an exciting three-way battle between these teams as they compete for the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.