McLaren’s title destiny: How Baku could seal the Constructors’ Crown

Written by Elaina Russell, Edited by Meghana Sree

Oscar Piastri follows behind Lando Norris at the Italian Grand Prix | Credit: Formula One

McLaren’s edge

Through 16 rounds, McLaren have been the benchmark. Their 617 points tower over Ferrari (280), Mercedes (260), and Red Bull (239). No team has been able to match their blend of raw speed, clean execution and ruthless consistency.

Oscar Piastri has been the metronome – scoring in every round and amassing 324 points with measured precision. Lando Norris has delivered the marquee wins – Australia, Monaco, and Great Britain – but two scoreless weekends in Canada and the Netherlands have kept him trailing his teammate.

Between them, they have 12 wins from 16 races, plus a run of four consecutive 1-2s stretching from Austria through Hungary. Even in Monza, where Verstappen stole the spotlight, McLaren banked second and third, ensuring their advantage in the Constructors’ race only grew wider. That has been the story of 2025: even when rivals shine, McLaren simply keep scoring.

Piastri edged out team mate Norris to a pole position at Zandvoort by just 0.012 seconds | Credit: Formula One

By the numbers: a relentless march

The season’s rhythm is clear in the points table. McLaren have scored 40 points or more in half of the weekends so far, with peaks of 58 points scored in Miami’s sprint weekend and another 56 in Belgium. Their only “off” outing thus far was Canada, where a collision left Norris stranded and Piastri left to salvage 12 points.

Individually, the balance is striking,

• Piastri: 324 points, seven wins, and the only driver to score in every round. His season began quietly (just two points in Australia) but has since become a lesson in consistency, with double-figure hauls in 14 of the last 15 races.

• Norris: 296 points, five wins, and triumphs at circuits that defined his childhood dreams – Monaco and Silverstone. His two retirements dented his total, but when he’s reached the flag, he’s been a podium regular.

The pairing has been near-perfectly complementary: when Piastri slips, Norris hits; when Norris falters, Piastri covers. The result is a points machine unmatched in modern F1.

McLaren team boss Andrea Stella will look to close the Constructors’ title fight this weekend at Baku | Credit: Formula One

The Baku equation

The maths is simple. McLaren must be 346 points clear after Azerbaijan to clinch. They currently lead Ferrari by 337. 

That means in order to seal the title, they must:

• Outscore Ferrari by nine points

• Avoid being outscored by Mercedes by more than 11

• Avoid being outscored by Red Bull by more than 32

A one-two finish in Baku would make the title official. Even a win and third would be enough. 

For Ferrari, only a miracle 1-2 combined with a McLaren stumble could postpone papaya celebrations. 

Mercedes’ hopes also hang on both drivers finishing on the podium. 

Red Bull’s scenario is even more extreme: a double podium plus a McLaren non-score.

This is no longer about whether McLaren will clinch the championship. It’s simply a matter of when, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix looking ever likely.

McLaren have looked strong all throughout their 2025 F1 campaign | Credit: Formula One

A season of milestones

If McLaren secure the title in Baku, it will mark the earliest Constructors’ Championship of the modern era. But for Andrea Stella’s team, this season has always been about more than trophies. At their current pace, McLaren are projected to surpass 925 points, smashing Red Bull’s record of 860 from 2023.

And then there’s the tantalizing question: can they break the 1,000-point barrier? If Norris and Piastri keep stacking one-twos, the dream could become reality. 

For a team that not so long ago struggled in the mid-field, the transformation is somewhat staggering. McLaren haven’t just caught up – they’ve redefined dominance.

Norris and Piastri will both be looking for a routine haul in Baku | Credit: Formula One

What comes next

Baku is the sport’s great wildcard. The narrow castle walls, the 1.37 mile (2.2km) flat-out straight, and the inevitability of Safety Cars make it a race that defies prediction. If Monza was about speed, Azerbaijan is about survival.

But survival is all McLaren needs. Two cars in the points, one more routine haul, and the Constructors’ trophy is theirs. Ferrari will push to keep hope alive, Verstappen will hunt for another win, but the numbers are stacked heavily in the papaya team’s favour.

Monza broke records. Baku could close the book. And if McLaren do it, the 2025 season will not be remembered as a contest – but the year McLaren rewrote F1’s record books.