The moment we all began to believe…

We spent a disappointing first few months of 2023 asking for patience, and at the British Grand Prix, it was rewarded as we revealed the upgrades we’d been pouring our hearts and souls into.

Expectations were tempered, but after such a tough start to the season, a lot was riding on their success. Even internally, it was hard to know what to expect, and so, when Lando and Oscar stunned the home crowd by qualifying second and third – only narrowly missing out on what would have been a historic one-two start – emotions were high.

And then, during a spine-tingling start, Lando took the lead of his home Grand Prix from Max Verstappen. It may have only lasted four laps, but the lift it gave to the team has played a defining role in the success that’s followed since.

A fascinating battle with Lewis Hamilton followed as Lando beat his fellow Brit to second and secured our first home podium in 13 years. Very few British voices remained the following day. It felt significant then, and that’s only been cemented in the 12 months since.  

The Hungarian Grand Prix was important in that it offered more proof of our increased performance, especially on a circuit with very different characteristics to Silverstone: hot temperatures and low-speed corners, as opposed to high-speed in cool conditions.

However, the Japanese Grand Prix felt like more of a landmark moment and a truer indication of our potential, following a second set of upgrades on both cars. Throughout the Singapore-Japan double header, no team scored more points than McLaren, as Lando took two podiums and Oscar notched his maiden rostrum in F1.  

On paper, Suzuka suited us, but races aren’t run on paper. Qualifying second and third, Oscar had to contend with the speed of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in his rear-view mirror, whilst preserving his tyres in a race famed for its heavy degradation – an area Oscar had publicly slated for improvement.

The Australian did so wonderfully, allowing Lando the space to comfortably consolidate second. It was calm, cool, and collected – a clear sign we now felt like we belonged.

Another double podium, another huge haul of points.

For the Championship battle, the double podium on Sunday was more significant – Andrea hailed it as a better result than Japan – but for our long-term aims, Oscar’s Sprint victory was a mental hurdle cleared and proof we could take that next step.

Across the weekend, we delivered 47 points and four trophies, a quite remarkable haul for a team that opened the season with a DNF and P17. On Saturday, Oscar delivered us Sprint pole and our first victory since the Italian Grand Prix in 2021.

Still a rookie, Oscar went wheel-to-wheel with Verstappen and won. Starting the race from first on Mediums, he brushed off a challenge from the Soft-tyred George Russell, who had already passed Verstappen. The Dutchman recaptured second from the Mercedes but could not find a way past Oscar, who defended defiantly.

Then, on Sunday, despite starting from sixth and 10th due to track limit violations (yep, those again), Oscar and Lando fought their way onto the podium, finishing second and third.

Even now, Lando’s drive in Mexico could still be considered his strongest in F1.

In previous years, Lando’s Q1 exit – at the hands of an unfortunately timed yellow flag – would have almost certainly resulted in a pointless race, with our car not quick enough to make significant forward progress, but in his upgraded McLaren, there was confidence that points were in reach.

Lando jumped two places to 15th when the lights went out but dropped to 18th in the pits, and this was when the fun began. By Lap 33, he’d charged to eighth, but he then dropped back to 14th during a Red Flag restart when he was forced to dodge a collision. The setbacks never stopped him.

He dusted himself down and got back to work, scything his way through to fifth. It may not have brought more silverware, or the same haul of points as Singapore, Japan, or Qatar, but it displayed the vast potential of the MCL38 in a way those races couldn’t.

Sixth and eighth might not seem all that meaningful, but stay with us.  

Having largely halted development on the MCL38 from Japan onwards in order to focus on our 2024 challenger, we entered 2024 with lofty expectations but little idea of what to actually expect.  

Would our shift to working on the 2024 car pay off? Had our rivals caught up with us? Or worse, had we gone backwards? Having only very recently returned to fighting at the front, there were so many unknowns. Our giant leap forward in 2023 had shown what we were capable of, but it had also shown what was possible in Formula 1.  

Just 12 months prior, we’d endured a woeful Bahrain Grand Prix, and that wasn’t lost on anyone. Our car had improved significantly since then, but upgrades tend to enhance strengths, not eliminate weaknesses. And at its core, the Bahrain International Circuit simply didn’t suit the strengths of our car.  

Yet, the weekend went remarkably smoothly. Both drivers made Q3, and both managed to either move forward in the race or hold their position. It was a solid starting point and welcome reassurance.   

You could include Canada in this backet as well – or Miami, but more on that later. Like Bahrain, the Shanghai International didn’t suit the MCL38, and yet, we were on the pace all weekend long.

Lando and Oscar continued their habit of making Q3 in every race and then performed strongly in the race. Finishing second, Lando started a streak of consecutive podiums that now stretches seven races – and Oscar could quite conceivably have made the podium had he not been hit from behind during a Safety Car restart. Even after that setback, he still managed eighth.

Heading into Miami, another circuit that didn’t play to our strengths, China provided us with a timely boost that the MCL38 might now be competitive on any type of track.

During his five F1 seasons, Lando had endured several near-misses, coming close to victory on multiple occasions before seeing it slip from his grasp for reasons outside of his control.

Lining up fifth and sixth, there was confidence Lando and Oscar could progress forwards, but few saw this as a particularly likely opportunity for victory, especially after a Lap 1 collision demoted Lando to sixth.

However, just a few laps later, Oscar emerged first, with Lando third. There was a glimmer of hope, but we’d been here before. Lando assumed the lead when those in front of him pitted, and then benefitted from a fortunately-timed Safety Car. He’d been presented with a glorious opportunity, but with Verstappen chasing from behind, we knew we were up against it.

Behind him, Oscar’s race had been ruined by a collision with Carlos Sainz – proof, if necessary, of how quickly things could unravel. And yet, Lando continued on in first, driving out of his skin, whilst the Red Bull appeared to be struggling for pace.

“Oooooh! Lando No-wins, ha?! Ha! I guess that’s how it’s done,” Lando laughed on team radio moments after crossing the line in first.