In a historic turning point, McLaren, a Mercedes engine customer, won its first Constructors’ Championship in 26 years at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking a seismic shift in Formula 1’s competitive landscape. The victory, driven by the heroic drive of Lando Norris, challenged the long-held belief that only factory teams could win titles in modern F1.
McLaren’s achievement isn’t just a victory for the Woking-based team—it’s a statement on evolving parity in Formula 1. McLaren boss Andrea Stella attributed the historic achievement to the company’s regulations. FIA ensuring that customer teams are no longer overshadowed by factory teams.
“A New Era for Customer Teams”: Stella Praises the Role of the FIA
Stella was quick to credit the FIA for leveling the playing field. “Thanks to the regulations and the good work of the FIA, there is clarity on how engines are used between customer teams and teams. factory,” Stella explained. “We are quite relaxed knowing that the performance of the customer power units is on par with that of the factory teams.”
This monumental victory makes McLaren the first real customer team to win the Manufacturer’s title since the magical Brawn GP season of 2009, which ironically led to the creation of the Mercedes factory team.
For Stella, satisfaction doesn’t just lie in proving critics wrong. “It’s not particularly satisfying to contradict the notion that only factory teams can win. The satisfying thing is that F1 has created an environment where customer teams can actually compete at the highest level.”
Norris and Brown reflect on this historic moment
Lando Norris, the Abu Dhabi GP star and a key figure in McLaren’s comeback, has played down the “customer vs. customer” debate. factory”. “Our goal has never been to prove people wrong. It’s about winning, no matter who we work with,” Norris said. “Mercedes has been a big help in our success.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown echoed the sentiment while highlighting the team’s increasingly close ties with Mercedes. Last year, McLaren extended its partnership with Mercedes High Performance Powertrains (HPP) until 2030, ensuring they remain a formidable competitor in F1’s new engine era.
“We negotiated a place at the table with Mercedes,” Brown revealed, referring to McLaren’s involvement in the design of the 2026 power unit. “We now have influence and early knowledge of their development, which strengthens our position.”
The debate: Who really owns McLaren’s success?
The victory in the Constructors’ Championship sparked a lively debate within the F1 community. While Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff called it “a success for Mercedes motorsport,” others, like Alpine’s Flavio Briatore, rejected the idea that McLaren’s victory reflected the glory of Mercedes.
“How many times have you read or heard about McLaren-Mercedes becoming world champions? Never,” Briatore told Auto Motor und Sport. For him, McLaren’s title is entirely theirs, with external contributors like engine suppliers relegated to footnotes.
Breaking the dominance of manufacturer teams
McLaren’s victory shattered a narrative perpetuated by former McLaren owner Ron Dennis, who famously said that customer teams could not win titles in modern F1. As history shows, the last decade has been dominated by manufacturer-backed giants like Mercedes and Red Bull, making McLaren’s breakthrough all the more significant.
Stella emphasized how vital it is to protect balance. “The FIA’s work to protect customer teams has opened the door to times like this. It proves that you don’t have to be a constructor’s team to win races and championships.”
A legacy for the ages
As the years go by, McLaren’s historic 2024 title will likely be seen as a testament to the customer teams’ potential. Whether celebrated as a triumph for McLaren or a footnote in the history of Mercedes engine success, this victory redefined the conversation about what is possible in Formula 1.
Unless the sport experiences another era of manufacturer team dominance, McLaren’s achievement will remain a benchmark to which other customer teams will aspire—a reminder that underdogs can still roar on the biggest stage.
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