Two-time Formula 1 champion Mika Hakkinen believes that McLaren has developed its 2024 car to a stage where it can “dominate” the remaining rounds this season.
McLaren has been recognised as the benchmark team since Lando Norris took his maiden win in Miami, and upgrades in the Netherlands have bolstered its potential.
Norris utilised the improved MCL38 to surge to a commanding 22-second win over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen upon the season’s resumption at Zandvoort last month.
The Woking-based squad’s renewed competitiveness was underlined at Monza as it locked out the front row, though a one-stopping Charles Leclerc snatched the win.
Nevertheless, McLaren’s recent double podium, combined with Red Bull’s troubles, has seen the margin in the Constructors’ Championship be reduced to eight points.
Hakkinen, who took his two titles with McLaren in 1998-1999, has predicted that his erstwhile team now have the tools to be uncatchable in the closing seven rounds.
“They are the best team out there, and this is the most exciting time, in my opinion, to see what’s going to happen for the rest of the season,” Hakkinen told Unibet.
“Are they going to just flat-out dominate? I hope they will. Or are there going to be some other teams upgrading their cars?
“I don’t think so. I think McLaren has tools, and they have drivers, they have the designers, they have the management, they have the mega, fantastic partners financing this great, great team.
“So I don’t think anybody is going to catch them.”
McLaren’s anguish at second and third places at the Italian Grand Prix marks a stark contrast to the nascent rounds last term when it was struggling to amass points.
Hakkinen, who anticipated the side’s revival at that low point, has hailed the senior management in place at McLaren who have inspired its unprecedented turnaround.
“If you look back quite a few years, the success of the McLaren has been very poor,” the Finn recalled.
“Looking at last year, I think they qualified at one of the first grands prix on the last row.
“It’s incredible to see that the team has a focus. The team has understanding to say ‘what do we need to get into position to win races?’
“That has been mega work for the management of the team, to be able to motivate the drivers, to make the drivers understand, ‘yes, we will get there – just please, patience, please work hard’.
“Including engineers, the mechanics, the designers, the marketing – to make them to believe, ‘yes, we are gonna get there, it takes time’.
“It takes so many years, but now look where they are.”
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