McLaren Makes a Comeback in F1 Title Race After 14 Years
The last time McLaren won a Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship was in 2008 when Lewis Hamilton clinched his first title. That was 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days ago. McLaren’s most recent Constructors’ Championship dates back even further to 1998, when Mika Hakkinen secured his first Drivers’ title, with teammate David Coulthard finishing third in the standings. This was 25 years, 9 months, and 14 days ago.
Throughout its storied history, McLaren has been associated with legendary drivers like Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, and Lewis Hamilton. These icons helped McLaren secure 20 titles—12 Drivers’ Championships and 8 Constructors’ Championships. In the 2024 Formula 1 season, McLaren is once again in contention for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles, aiming to add to its impressive legacy.
Since their last title win in 2008 with Lewis Hamilton, McLaren has struggled to maintain the level of competitiveness they once enjoyed. Their last truly competitive season was in 2010, with 2012 also showing promise before setbacks in the second half of the season dashed their title hopes. However, in 2024, McLaren has returned to the front of the grid.
Back in 2010, McLaren was in the title fight throughout the season with Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button forming a formidable driver pairing. Both were already World Champions, with Button being the reigning champion after winning the 2009 title with Brawn GP, and Hamilton having won the previous year.
The 2010 season is often remembered as the beginning of Red Bull’s dominance, with Sebastian Vettel winning his first Drivers’ Championship and becoming the youngest World Champion in F1 history.
Taking Advantage of Vettel’s Misfortunes
Despite Vettel’s success, he didn’t win the opening race of the season in Bahrain. He started from pole and led comfortably until a sudden loss of power in the final laps allowed Ferrari drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, along with Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren, to overtake him. This gave McLaren their first podium of the season, with Jenson Button finishing in seventh to secure a double-points finish.
McLaren’s fortunes continued in the next race in Australia, where Vettel’s bad luck struck again. After starting on pole, brake issues caused him to crash out, allowing Button to inherit the win with a well-timed pit stop. Hamilton finished sixth, adding more points to McLaren’s tally.
In China, McLaren capitalized on more issues for Vettel. In a race that was unpredictable due to changing weather conditions, Button took the victory while Hamilton finished second, giving McLaren their first 1-2 finish of the year.
Building Momentum
McLaren faced some challenges in Monaco, where Button retired, but bounced back with two consecutive 1-2 finishes in Istanbul and Montreal. The Turkish Grand Prix was particularly memorable for the tension between Vettel and his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, which culminated in a collision that handed the race win to Hamilton and second place to Button.
In Canada, Hamilton delivered a commanding performance from pole, taking his second win of the season and establishing himself as a serious title contender. McLaren’s double podium in Valencia, following Webber’s retirement, allowed them to take the lead in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.
A Tight Battle
As the season progressed, it became clear that the title fight would go down to the wire. The 2010 season was highly competitive, with several drivers still in contention for the Drivers’ Championship and both Red Bull and McLaren vying for the Constructors’ title.
In Hungary, Hamilton’s retirement due to a gearbox issue allowed Webber to retake the lead in the championship. However, Hamilton bounced back in Belgium, winning the race and reclaiming the top spot.
Hamilton’s hopes took a hit with back-to-back retirements in Monza and Singapore, dropping him to third in the standings behind Webber and Alonso. Despite his struggles, McLaren remained in the hunt for both titles.
The Final Stretch
The season finale in Abu Dhabi was a four-way battle for the Drivers’ Championship between Alonso, Webber, Vettel, and Hamilton. Vettel started from pole, with Hamilton alongside him on the front row. However, a slow start and an early pit stop for Webber dropped him down the order, while Alonso also struggled after a pit stop, allowing Vettel and Hamilton to pull away.
In the end, it was Vettel who emerged victorious, securing his first World Championship. Hamilton finished second in the race but fourth in the standings, while Alonso and Webber were left to reflect on what might have been.
The 2010 season was one of the most competitive in recent memory, with McLaren playing a central role in the title fight. Although they ultimately fell short, the team’s performances that year laid the groundwork for their resurgence in 2024. Now, after 14 years, McLaren is once again in the hunt for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships, hoping to add to their storied legacy in Formula 1.
