Five reasons why McLaren won the 2025 Constructors’ World Championship
McLaren sealed the defence of their Constructors' Championship with six rounds to go at the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix, which was won by George Russell.
Sports News Blitz writer Eloise Stevens takes a look at the main reasons behind their successful defence and dominance this Formula 1 season.
Pivotal leadership
In 2016, Zak Brown knew the challenge of succeeding Ron Dennis, the man who built McLaren into a championship-winning team.
Now, after securing back-to-back Constructors’ Championships for the first time since 1991, Brown is restoring that legacy.
The key to McLaren’s revival has been the reshaping of its leadership.
Brown hasn’t hesitated to part ways with underperformers, and the welcomed arrival of new team principal Andrea Stella, after Andreas Seidl’s failed Audi move, has proved crucial.
Stella’s calm, methodical leadership has guided McLaren from a low point in 2023 to championship glory in 2024 and now in 2025.
With 10 titles, they now trail only Ferrari in the record books.
Dream driver pairing
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have dominated this season, winning 12 of the 18 races, securing seven 1-2 finishes, and earning 28 podiums between them, leaving them both in contention for the Drivers’ Championship.
Their consistent individual performances, with few mistakes, namely Norris hitting Piastri in Canada and Piastri’s DNF in Baku, have been contributing factors.
However, McLaren credits their success not just to individual talent but to strong teamwork and equal treatment between the drivers.
This harmony, rare between two title contenders, has been pivotal.
However, moments like Piastri’s frustration with Norris’ move at the Singapore GP suggest the tension that has long been simmering beneath the surface could now start to overspill.
READ MORE: Singapore GP: McLaren win 2025 Constructors’ Championship amid more intrateam drama
Efficiency
The arrival of chief designer Rob Marshall from Red Bull has been paramount to McLaren’s smart, cost-effective car development.
Since his oversight of the vital 2023 Austria upgrade, most updates have delivered clear performance gains, especially seen with the car's strong correlation with wind tunnel to on-track performance.
McLaren’s progress also extends beyond the car - their overall team strength has been fundamental.
Despite some recent pit stop issues, it’s this collective effort that’s helped them clinch the Constructors’ title with six races to spare, matching the feat achieved by Red Bull in 2023.
In a league of their own
Perhaps McLaren’s most impressive achievement this season is winning the Constructors’ Championship with a 650-point lead, double that of second-placed Mercedes, in what was expected to be one of the most competitive seasons in years.
Ferrari’s sudden downfall, despite a strong finish to the 2024 season and a new, highly decorated driver in Lewis Hamilton, has been unexpected.
Meanwhile, Mercedes and Red Bull’s reliability issues have led to them failing to fully capitalise on McLaren's weaker performances.
Red Bull have struggled to support Verstappen with a stable car and competitive second driver, and Mercedes have lost crucial points to power unit issues and driver error.
Upgrades
The best way to secure any championship is to have the best car - and McLaren have delivered just that.
Key elements to this championship-winning car include dominant medium-speed cornering, class-leading tyre management, advanced suspension for aerodynamic stability, and efficient cooling with minimal venting for reduced drag.
Their recent dip in performance only stems from halting car development to prioritise the new regulations set to be introduced in 2026, while rivals like Mercedes and Red Bull have continued to provide upgrades to their cars.
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