McLaren F1 Team

McLaren is one of Formula 1’s most successful and recognisable teams, with a heritage spanning over half a century. Known for innovation, championship-winning drivers, and iconic liveries, the team has left a lasting mark on the sport.

Current McLaren F1 drivers

In 2025, McLaren races with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, continuing a competitive resurgence that has brought them back to the sharp end of the grid. With the MCL39, the team targets regular podiums and a sustained championship challenge.

Lando Norris

Now established as McLaren’s lead driver, Norris combines raw speed with racecraft and consistency. After his first Grand Prix win in 2024, he enters 2025 as a genuine title contender.

Driver Profile

Lando Norris at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix | McLaren F1 Team

Oscar Piastri

The Australian made a huge impression in his rookie 2023 season and built on that with multiple podiums in 2024. Piastri’s calm approach and technical adaptability make him a key asset for McLaren.

Driver Profile

Oscar Piastri after the F1 2025 Japanese Grand Prix | McLaren F1 Team

McLaren F1 Team history

McLaren was founded in 1963 by New Zealander Bruce McLaren, initially as a sports car racing outfit before entering Formula 1 in 1966. The team’s first win came at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix, with Bruce himself at the wheel. In the early years, McLaren established itself as a competitive force, winning its first Constructors’ Championship in 1974 with Emerson Fittipaldi.

The late 1970s and early 1980s saw fluctuating fortunes, but a major turning point arrived with the 1981 introduction of the MP4/1, Formula 1’s first carbon fibre monocoque chassis. This innovation revolutionised the sport and set McLaren on a path to dominance. The arrival of Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna in the 1980s led to one of the most successful eras in F1 history, with multiple championships and a near-perfect season in 1988, when Senna and Prost won 15 of 16 races.

The 1990s brought more titles with Ayrton Senna, Mika Häkkinen, and the technical partnership with Mercedes. Häkkinen’s back-to-back Drivers’ Championships in 1998 and 1999 kept McLaren at the front, while the team also remained a consistent challenger during the early 2000s. Lewis Hamilton’s dramatic 2008 title win marked the team’s last Drivers’ Championship to date.

Following a challenging period in the hybrid era, including an underperforming partnership with Honda from 2015 to 2017, McLaren rebuilt its technical structure, strengthened leadership, and renewed its Mercedes power unit partnership in 2021. This laid the foundations for a steady climb back to the podium.

Today, under CEO Zak Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella, McLaren is once again fighting for victories. The team combines cutting-edge technology from its Woking headquarters with a strong driver line-up, determined to add to its tally of 8 Constructors’ Championships and 12 Drivers’ Championships.

F1 car – McLaren MCL39

Chassis: McLaren MCL39
Power unit: Mercedes-AMG F1 M15 E Performance
Concept focus: Highly efficient ground effect floor, revised suspension geometry for better ride quality, and optimised DRS performance.
Upgrade path: Major aerodynamic package scheduled for mid-season, plus track-specific updates for low- and high-downforce circuits.