McLaren one step away from ticking off key objective in Baku

If results go their way, McLaren can secure their second constructors' title in a row next weekend.

Currently, the Woking-based team has 617 points in the standings, with their rivals last season, Ferrari, sitting 337 points behind them with nine rounds remaining.

There are 389 points still up for grabs in the remaining rounds. McLaren now needs to outscore Ferrari by nine points, and avoid being outscored by Mercedes by 12.

If Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris secure a one-two finish in Baku, they will be champions no matter where the Ferrari and Mercedes drivers finish in the standings.

That is also the case if one of the drivers wins, while the other rounds out the podium.

Finishing second and third could also be enough, provided that Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton does not take the Scuderia's first win of 2025.

If the two McLaren drivers finish third and fourth, the only thing they need to watch is for Ferrari or Mercedes not to claim a one-two finish.

McLaren could also clinch the title with a second–fourth finish, but only if no Ferrari driver finishes higher than P5 and only one Mercedes driver reaches the podium.

Securing the title could lift some pressure in the two teammates' battle for the drivers' title.

However, as team principal Andrea Stella explained at Zandvoort, McLaren will not go racing unregulated.

"‘They are free to race, they can do whatever they want,’ I would say is not the present of how we go racing at McLaren, and will not be the future of how we go racing at McLaren. Even when we win, and if we win the Constructors’ Championship," the Italian told GPblog.