McLaren Eyes Singapore for Constructors' Title: Can They Clinch It?

McLaren is set for their second — and more straightforward — chance to clinch the 2025 Constructors' Championship at the Singapore Grand Prix. This follows a somewhat disappointing showing in Azerbaijan, where they missed out on sealing their landmark 10th teams' title with a record seven races to spare. Despite that, their 2025 coronation remains an inevitability.

Why it matters:

• McLaren's dominance this season has been historic, and clinching the Constructors' Championship in Singapore would tie Red Bull's 2023 record for becoming champions with six races still to go.
• This achievement would solidify McLaren's return to the pinnacle of Formula 1, marking a significant milestone for the team.

The Details:

• Following Baku, McLaren's formidable lead in the standings was trimmed slightly but still stands at 333 points.
• Mercedes and Ferrari remain mathematically in contention for the championship, while fourth-placed Red Bull, despite recent wins, officially dropped out of the running, 351 points behind with only 346 points left on offer.
• After Singapore, a maximum of 303 points will remain for a team to score across the six remaining Grand Prix and three Sprint races.
• McLaren's Path to Victory: McLaren will be crowned champions if they lead by 303 points or more by the end of the Singapore Grand Prix.
  • To delay McLaren's coronation until at least the United States Grand Prix, Mercedes or Ferrari would need to reduce their deficits to 301 points.
  • Mercedes must outscore McLaren by at least 31 points to stay mathematically alive, while Ferrari needs to outscore them by 35 points.
  • Simple Scenario: A third-placed finish (15 points) for just one McLaren car would be more than enough to secure the title, regardless of Mercedes' or Ferrari's performance.

By the numbers:

McLaren is also within reach of several significant F1 records this season:

• Most points in a season: The record is 860 (Red Bull, 2023). McLaren's current total is 623. While their average points per race has dipped slightly, they'll need to increase it to surpass Red Bull's 2023 average of 39.09 points per race.
• Largest constructors' winning margin: Red Bull set the record in 2023 with a 451-point margin. McLaren's current lead is 333 points, a record that could be within reach with continued strong performances.
• Most podiums in a season: Mercedes holds the record with 33 podiums in 2016. McLaren currently has 27 and needs only seven more podiums from the remaining 14 opportunities to surpass this total, making it a highly achievable goal.
• Most fastest laps in a season: Ferrari set this record with 14 in 2004. McLaren currently has 11 fastest laps and is well-positioned to at least equal this record, having claimed 65% of them so far this season.
• Most McLaren wins in a season: The team's record is 15 wins from 16 races in 1988. McLaren has 12 wins currently and needs four more victories from the remaining seven rounds to set a new team record for most wins in a single season.

What's next:

The 2025 Formula 1 title fight continues under the lights at the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend. McLaren will be aiming to finalize their championship win and potentially add more records to their remarkable season, solidifying their position as a dominant force in F1.