Lando Norris has expressed that McLaren’s turnaround to clinch back-to-back title successes is an even bigger achievement given the cost cap in place in Formula 1.
Norris’ third place in last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix was enough to secure McLaren’s 10th Constructors’ Championship with a record-equalling six rounds to go.
With a considerable 325-point advantage over Mercedes – the team’s closest rival – the Woking-based squad’s crowning moment had long been considered inevitable.
The last time McLaren retained the Constructors’ title prior to this season was in 1991, with the team enduring a prolonged 26-year championship drought from 1998.
Andrea Stella’s reign as McLaren boss had begun with the side in crisis in 2023, rooted to last place two races in with an uncompetitive and underdeveloped package.
However, the Italian has overseen a remarkable revival that saw McLaren edge Ferrari to the Constructors’ Championship in 2024, while it has dominated this season.
Norris reckons McLaren’s superiority should be held in an even higher regard as it has arrived in an era with stable rules when teams can’t outspend their competitors.
“I mean, another one is just a great thing,” Norris told media including Motorsport Week.
“Another Constructors’ feels the same as the first because to get the first was quite an achievement if you still look at where we were just three years ago.
“We’ve overtaken every team in terms of development. We’ve outdone them by a long way in terms of development.
“And in a time when it’s almost harder to do than ever – with more restrictions, less wind tunnel time, all of those different things, budget cap – that’s probably been more in our favour over the last five years compared to the budget that the other teams could run at.
“In a time when it should be more difficult than ever to dominate, that’s exactly what the team has done and given us, by a long way, the best car on the grid.
“That’s always a very nice thing to say. Every driver that gets to say that, it always puts a smile on your face.”
Norris reflects on ‘special’ McLaren journey
Norris, who debuted in the series with McLaren in 2019, conveyed that the initial lows he experienced with the team have made its recent success all the more sweet.
“For me, I’ve been with McLaren since I started. It was a very different time and place then to where we are now,” he highlighted.
“So that journey makes it more special – to know the downs, because that’s a lot of what it was back then – to see the rise we’ve had, to see the teamwork, the changes, the atmosphere difference, and the leadership from Zak [Brown, McLaren CEO] and Andrea especially, has turned things around and made us the best team in the world. That’s something not many people ever get to say.”
Where McLaren has crushed the competition
Alongside an undisputed pace advantage this season, Norris is adamant that McLaren’s dominance can be credited to having two drivers operating on an equal level.
“We’ve also done very well as a team in terms of drivers, between Oscar and myself pushing each other and delivering every single weekend,” he added.
“You don’t see that in any other team. I think we’re also very proud of that as drivers.”
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