The 2024 season may have culminated in Abu Dhabi with the “worst two hours” of McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown’s life, but boy was it worth it. The Papaya squad are well and truly back having secured their first constructors’ crown in 26 years, while Lando Norris put up an admirable challenge to Max Verstappen in the drivers’ championship. It represents a simply stunning turnaround for a team that began the 2023 season towards the back of the grid. Here is their end of year report…
Best finish
Lando Norris – 1st in Miami, Zandvoort, Singapore and Abu Dhabi; Oscar Piastri – 1st in Hungary and Azerbaijan
This was the year Norris finally achieved that long-awaited maiden F1 win at the Miami Grand Prix – those jubilant scenes still etched into the memories of everyone associated with McLaren.
With those Sochi 2021 memories permanently banished, Norris seized the initiative and went on to score more victories in Zandvoort and Singapore, while his superb triumph in the season finale secured McLaren their constructors’ title.
It is undoubtedly a year the Briton can look back on with pride, having gone toe to toe with Verstappen in the drivers’ championship for much of the season, but there will still be a hint of missed opportunities – events in Silverstone, Austria and Monza are just a few examples that spring to mind.
Let’s also not forget Oscar Piastri in all of this either. In just his second F1 season, the Australian secured his first two Grand Prix wins – his triumph in Baku was particularly skilful thanks to his stunning overtake and defence against Charles Leclerc – while his consistency played a significant part in seeing the Woking outfit take the constructors’.
