Lando Norris may be too far out of reach to win the drivers’ championship in 2024, but McLaren still have a great chance of picking up some silverware.
The Woking-based team have enjoyed a huge resurgence in form in recent months. Looking like a midfield team, or even a backmarker at the start of 2023, McLaren now find themselves regularly competing for podiums and race wins.
For much of the 2024 season, the team have arguably had the fastest car as they – as well as Ferrari and Mercedes – have taken a big step towards challenging Red Bull, who have seen a decline in performance this year despite Max Verstappen looking set to win his fourth consecutive title.
It will certainly feel like a missed opportunity in the drivers’ championship given the advantage McLaren have had for months. But there is still another trophy to fight for that is very much in reach for the Woking-based outfit.
Martin Brundle says McLaren are ‘nervous’ about their previous Las Vegas result as they fight for the constructors’ title
The consistency shown from Norris and Oscar Piastri in 2024 have put McLaren top of the Constructors’ Championship by 36 points heading into the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Fans will have to go all the way back to 1998 for the last time McLaren took the constructors’ title back to Woking. But there will be some doubts surrounding the team heading into Las Vegas, as Norris said he was ‘not very good’ in practice.
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The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix was one to forget for McLaren, as Norris crashed out on lap three while Piastri managed to finish 10th after starting P18.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1 ahead of FP1 in Las Vegas, Martin Brundle senses a ‘nervous’ feeling around McLaren after their poor result there last year and how things can quickly change with Red Bull and Ferrari so close behind.
“The last time they were leading with three races to go in 2008, they lost. Ferrari overtook them,” he said.
“McLaren are turning up here quite nervous actually, because we saw Lando on lap three have a massive accident here where the car bottomed out, there wasn’t any grip and off he went.
“And they know how quickly it can turn around. If suddenly, remember Sergio Perez was strong here last year, it only needs a strong [result from] both Red Bull drivers at the end of the Grand Prix and it’ll turn it on its head again.”
Can McLaren hold on to win their first constructors’ title in 26 years?
Although it was many years back now, McLaren have been in this position before and lost the title, so they will be eager to clinch the championship this time around.
Red Bull will present a fierce challenge to the Woking-based outfit as they sit 49 points behind in third with three races to go. Verstappen and Sergio Perez were strong at Las Vegas last year and a big haul of points for the team will put them in a good position to retain their title.
Interestingly, Brundle did not give a mention to Ferrari, who are McLaren’s closest rivals in second. The Maranello squad also displayed great pace on the street circuit in 2023 and their upturn in performance will certainly put pressure on McLaren.
But Norris and Piastri’s consistency will be hard to beat in the last three races, with all three arguably suiting the nature of the MCL38. Piastri says McLaren have reverted back to their original ‘papaya rules’, so it is expected the Aussie will be allowed to attack and challenge his teammate and rivals for victories.
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