Photo: Race Pictures

No more catching McLaren this year: Papaya team crowned champions

16:38, 05 Oct

byKada Sarkozi

McLaren have secured the constructors' championship - with six races to go. The Woking-based team have retained the title they won in the season finale in Abu Dhabi 2024 after a hugely impressive season.

McLaren in a class of their own

Lando Norris's podium and Oscar Piastri's fourth place in the Singapore GP earned the team enough points to mean they can no longer be caught in the remaining races as they became back-to-back champions.

The team were unable to seal the title last out in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix meaning the team needed to be to avoid being outscored by Mercedes by 12 points, and by Red Bull by 33 points or more. So by collecting a total of 27 points in Singapore means they can no longer be caught this season.

George Russell won the race for Mercedes, with Max Verstappen finishing in P2, Norris in P3 and Piastri in P4, with Charles Leclerc and Andrea Kimi Antonelli closing the top six.

However, there was a nervy start for McLaren chiefs as Norris and Piastri made contact on the opening lap.

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said: "Like all race weekends you review everything. It looks like Max and Lando either touched or had to check up, so it was clearly an exciting Turn 3 incident. Racing, tough racing.

“When you have three or four cars all stacked up, that’s going to happen. So we will look at it in more depth on Monday but clearly just hard racing.”

Lando Norris driving the MCL39 in Singapore - Photo: Race Pictures

McLaren the main force in 2025

Despite some difficulties in the last two races, Piastri and Norris have won 12 out of the 18 races this year. Other than the two teammates, only Verstappen and Russell have secure victories in 2025.

Will Norris and Piastri be now free to race?

While the constructors' title is now wrapped up, the battle for the drivers' title between Norris and Piastri remains open and is hotting up

Over the team bosses' press conference ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, McLaren's Andrea Stella already explained that the title will not change how they go racing .

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"No. The approach to the Drivers’ title will not change. This is not dependent on the Constructors’. The way we go racing is dependent on the racing principles, on the values that we embody as McLaren Racing.

"Also is a reflection of the fact that we want to protect the unity of the team, which is a foundational condition for the future," he explained.

And following their first lap clash in Singapore, the team have promised a full investigation - once they have stopped celebration the constructors title.

Brown added: "They have driven brilliantly all season. You can't win the constructors' without two awesome racing drivers.

"As you can see, we are letting them race. That was a bit more of a nail-biter there, but they race hard, they race clean, they race to win.

"A lot of racing to go and hopefully a lot more victories for both of them."

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella speaking after the Singapore race, said: “The two drivers were already in condition to race and pursue their aspirations.

“We will stay in continuity with this approach. Every race, we learn a little bit, finetune but it’s a matter of details. There will be continuity with what’s the pursuit of the drivers’ championship. It doesn’t change the approach having won the constructors’ championship.”

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