Piastri and Norris join together in McLaren confirmation statement

“It’s great to be able to come together and celebrate the success that we have achieved as a team,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown said. “We can also take this moment to reflect on the papaya era of McLaren, which began in 2018 but truly came into full force in 2023. To have been able to achieve one of the biggest turnarounds in Formula 1 history is something everyone can be proud of.

He finally added: “Since the beginning of this era, we’ve celebrated 18 Pole positions, 19 victories, 67 podiums and nine 1-2 finishes, while also delivering back-to back Constructors’ Championships.

After the struggles of the previous decade and years spent watching the dominance of Mercedes and then Red Bull, the Woking-based team has undergone a slow but steady resurgence in recent seasons.

But how exactly did McLaren manage to put itself in a position where it essentially had no rivals for the title? Find out more here.

Andrea Stella highlighted the remarkable achievement by McLaren in winning the Constructors’ Championship for the second year in a row.

Stella then shifted the focus to 2026, describing it as a challenge comparable to climbing Mount Everest: “We must remain focused and prepared as our biggest challenge is still to come with the change of regulations in 2026. This challenge will be like climbing Everest, and is one we will attack together. Every minute counts and as a team, we will make sure we continue to work hard to continue our journey as World Champions.”

Finally, both Norris and Piastri shared a few words to celebrate the team’s success, even though the two found themselves in the spotlight after their collision during the Singapore Grand Prix.

At the start of the race, the Australian was unintentionally tagged by his teammate, losing position and ultimately finishing behind him. This time, unlike in Monza, the team opted not to impose any team orders, instead allowing the pair to race each other freely.

"To be World Champions for the second year in a row is just as special as the first time. The team have given us an incredible, dominant car that’s been a joy to drive every weekend," the Brit said.

Finally, Piastri added: "What we’ve been able to achieve over the last few seasons is impressive. We’ve come a long way, and to be able to say that we’ve recorded one of the most dominant seasons in Formula 1 history is incredibly special."