Even six months ago, McLaren contending for Formula 1 titles in 2024 seemed unlikely. How did the team achieve it?
Having worked at McLaren for the past nine years, current team principal Andrea Stella knows better than most what a rollercoaster the team has lived through.
While McLaren took the lead of the constructors’ standings somewhat unsurprisingly last weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, this is the first time the Woking-based squad has appeared as a legitimate title contender since the 2012 campaign.
Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button had taken a combined seven victories from 20 races that season – tied with Red Bull for most wins. However, a blend of driver errors and technical failures left them with a total 10 retirements – a stark contrast with other frontrunners at Red Bull, Ferrari and Lotus. The associated points loss was insurmountable.
Despite its undeniable performance, McLaren decided an overhauled car would have more potential in 2013, seeing limited development avenues on the rapid MP4-27. Thus was conceived the MP4-28 under technical chief Paddy Lowe with a revamped nose, monocoque and pullrod front suspension inspired by Ferrari.
This was unsuccessful to say the least. Button and new team-mate Sergio Perez failed to get a single podium finish, with the Mexican lamenting a lack of downforce and stability.
The debacle cost Martin Whitmarsh his position at the head of the team, and Eric Boullier was appointed as racing director by chairman and CEO Ron Dennis ahead of the 2014 campaign.
With Lowe having joined Mercedes, the 2014 MP4-29 was designed under promoted technical director Tim Goss, according to Formula 1’s groundbreaking new regulations.
McLaren enjoyed a certain advantage over most rival teams thanks to the dominant Mercedes turbo hybrid powertrain, but the team could boast little success despite briefly leading the constructors’ championship following a double podium by rookie Kevin Magnussen and Button in Melbourne.
Button then explained that the car was lacking both traction and downforce, consequently unstable in high-speed curves. “On corners with a sharp turn-in we are nowhere,” the Briton deplored.
Meanwhile, McLaren had announced the revival of its legendary engine partnership with Honda for 2015, reminiscent of the team’s halcyon days with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
The next three years did not live up to that glorious era. The team struggled to even fight for points due to the Honda unit lacking both power and reliability – with the returning Fernando Alonso infamously branding his powertrain a “GP2 engine” in the Japanese manufacturer’s home race at Suzuka.
