The focus is now on McLaren as the world of Formula 1 awaits the 2025 season. After a successful campaign in 2024, the team has made its intentions with Woking clear: not compete, just dominate. Team Principal Andrea Stella has put forth a plan for the future of the team, one that could be a game-changer in how the scales tip in Formula 1’s competitive .
A victorious 2024 Campaign for McLaren
McLaren put the icing on the cake with the MCL38-the car that found no match on balance or adaptability-so that it proved a force on every type of track and in all conditions during the 2024 season. This impressive consistency helped McLaren to win the Constructors’ Championship from Ferrari by a few points in a nail-biting finish.
The innovative design of MCL38 and a series of successful upgrades mid-season were factors in their success. Such improvements enabled Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to be consistently producing podium-worthy performances. However, the season was not without its share of disappointments.
A flashpoint for the Hungarian GP occurred, as Norris and Piastri conducted their affairs in public. This setting also highlighted fundamental problems in the driver management system at this team. Be it through incidents on the track between the duo or even the apparent mishandling of these by the team, these highlight yet another area of development for McLaren as it prepares for an even more ambitious 2025 campaign.
Looking back at the top 5 moments from the 2024 F1 season! 🤩
Which ones stood out to you? 🧐#F1 pic.twitter.com/NRoyecPhMB
— Sportskeeda F1 (@SportskeedaF1) December 31, 2024
Andrea Stella’s Bold Vision for 2025
McLaren is here to prove that they are not only as serious but also in making provision for the future. Andrea Stella’s comments, which the team shared before the new season, seem to back up the position to take risks in going after greatness.
“We are taking risks in our design choices. The approach to the next championship will essentially be courageous because we will focus on innovation. When we approached the 2025 car, we decided that we have to make a quantum leap if the ambition is to also aim for the drivers’ title,” expounded Stella.
Perhaps Stella’s last big statement was to make the championship “a little bit more boring” by making McLaren the all-time force in Formula 1. Although the comment is bold, it points to the team’s solid confidence in building on what they achieved next year.
“We would like to make the championship a little bit more boring and maybe not be as close as it was this year. Actually, I think the challenge will still be very exciting with four teams in the battle,” he added.
Consistency was the key to Max Verstappen's 2024 success 🔑
As we break the season into three phases, what stands out to you? 🤔#F1 pic.twitter.com/x50erDFE2J
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 20, 2024
The Battle of the Titans Awakens in 2025
2025 will be a season lined up to be arguably the most hotly contested in recent memory. Ferrari has created an almost unbeatable lineup with the coming of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to partner with Charles Leclerc. Many consider the strongest driver lineup to grace the grid. Thus, according to the talk that Hamilton’s experience, together with Leclerc’s raw talent, makes Ferrari into a formidable challenge.
Red Bull and Mercedes, of course, are challenges every year. Both have worked throughout the off-season, and given their long history of solid performances, they are not easy to eclipse.
And yet, McLaren is determined to stay at the top. It built on the success of MCL38 to stretch its design limits in the 2025 car. And while technical innovation will be a factor, driver management will be of vital importance. With two pretty talented drivers in Norris and Piastri, McLaren would want to find ways of working them without falling into the same traps of inter-team rivalry that spoiled their 2024 bid.
Can McLaren Maintain Momentum?
Never has the bar been set as high for McLaren. After achieving unprecedented success in a single season, the expectations for 2025 are gigantic. The goal for the team is not just to be able to hold on to the Constructors’ Championship but also to mount a serious assault for the Drivers’ Championship.
Andrea Stella said making the championship “boring,” causing debates among fans and observers. Whether or not it will be a bold statement of purpose, others believe that the appeal of Formula 1 is in its unpredictability and fierce competition between teams.
One thing is for sure, however the season plays out: McLaren’s rivals won’t be making things easy. Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes are now all watching the road to reclaim their positions at the top, and the battles towards that ramp-up will sure be fierce on the track.
A Season of High Stakes and High Drama
As the countdown to the 2025 season begins, the anticipation among fans is palpable. Will McLaren’s innovative approach pay off? Can Ferrari leverage the combined talents of Hamilton and Leclerc to dethrone their rivals? Will Red Bull or Mercedes spring a surprise and return to dominance?
One thing is clear: Formula 1’s top teams are preparing to write a new chapter in the sport’s history. For McLaren, the challenge will be to build on the success of 2024 while addressing the weaknesses that surfaced during the season. With so much on the line, the 2025 championship promises to be anything but boring—despite Stella’s audacious claims.
WEEEEEE ARE THE CHAMPIONSSSSSS! 🏆🏆🏆#ThisTeam pic.twitter.com/RMJh8WHClN
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) December 8, 2024