One of the nice things about our weekend in Abu Dhabi (and there are many) is that we had Emerson Fittipaldi in the garage, bringing his usual toothy grin and good vibes. Emmo was McLaren’s first World Champion, helping us to a Constructors’ and Drivers’ double in the 1974 season. In parallel with 2025, Emmo came out on top of a three-way title fight going into the season-ending US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. Emmo stayed with McLaren to defend his title and finished second to Niki Lauda, before departing at the end of the 1975 season to race for his brother’s team.

Effervescently cool, Emmo is credited with playing a key role in sparking Brazil’s love for Formula 1, walking so that a certain Ayrton Senna could later run. Arriving on the scene with a stereotypical samba swagger, a thick mop of long dark hair, and distinctive sideburns – normally complete with sunglasses – he was F1’s own King of Cool. Blessed with a racing style as smooth as he was, Emmo continued racing into his late 60s, such was his passion for motorsport.

A truly mercurial talent, James Hunt’s battle with Niki Lauda across the 1976 season is probably the most famous in F1 history, having inspired the movie Rush.

James was a driver with natural raw pace. Fiercely competitive, he drove on instinct, racing on the edge and never giving an inch. He was also flamboyant: when people talk about F1 having a golden generation, his name is usually the one that springs to mind. Hard-driving, hard-drinking, cocky, and flirtatious, James was renowned for his love of extra-curricular activities.

Joining McLaren for 1976 as Emerson Fittipaldi’s replacement, James had big boots to fill, but had shown with the smaller Hesketh team that he was capable of winning races. While his off-track antics have gone down in folklore, no one at McLaren minded so long as he performed in the car, and James could back it up. Fear would strike him in the lead-up to races, but once out on track, he flourished. James sealed his title at the final round in Japan in a race that fittingly demonstrated the bravery for which he was known in the car, as he battled heavy fog, torrential rain and standing water.

Eight years on from his infamous battle with McLaren’s James Hunt as a Ferrari driver, Niki Lauda was on the other side of F1’s most famous team-to-team rivalry, fighting for the title with McLaren.  

Niki had initially left F1 in 1979, concentrating instead on running his airline business… but new McLaren boss Ron Dennis was determined to coax him out of retirement. He kept calling, and eventually, Niki said yes, allowing himself to be persuaded into a race seat for 1982, curious as to whether he still had the speed to fight for top honours. The answer was, of course, yes. He was back on the pace immediately and believed he could have even won the title in ’82, but realised it was possible too late. He did win the title, and cap his comeback, in 1984 before finally retiring in 1985, beating teammate Alain Prost by half a point in the closest Drivers’ Championship in F1 history.

Few drivers have ever demanded as much respect as Niki did. ‘No-nonsense’ is the best way to describe him. He always spoke his mind, did as he pleased and went wherever he wanted in the paddock. He was supremely fast, even in his latter years, but it was his sharp mind and immense dedication that set him apart – in a sport packed with intelligent, motivated characters, Niki stood out amongst the very best of them. 

Alain Prost had been courted by most of the F1 grid before electing to join McLaren in 1980. He left for Renault after a single season before returning in 1984 alongside Niki Lauda. During a six-year stint, he amassed an impressive 30 victories and three Drivers’ Championships.

Having missed out on the Drivers’ title by two points in 1983 with Renault, and half a point to Niki in 1984, he made no mistake in 1985, dominating the season to win with two races to spare. He took another two titles (1986 and 1989) with McLaren, during which time he formed one half of F1’s most enduring intra-team rivalry with Ayrton Senna, culminating in their infamous collision in the title-deciding 1989 Japanese Grand Prix.

During his time at McLaren, Alain earned the nickname Le Professeur, for his calm, cerebral approach to racing, but that wasn’t always the case. In the early years, paired with Niki, Alain was the young charger, battling his older, wiser team-mate. Niki’s calculated and studious style rubbed off on his younger teammate, as Alain adopted a similar attitude - the student becoming the master. The contrast between Alain’s calculated style and Ayrton’s more explosive approach is, in part, what made their battle so captivating.

Ayrton Senna actually tested for McLaren during his pre-F1 career, but declined the offer of a contract with an obligation to drive for McLaren when he stepped up to F1. Instead, he began his F1 career with Toleman, and moved to Mclaren in 1988 via Honda-powered Lotus. Senna and Honda arrived at McLaren at the same time, and together they formed a dominant partnership. Ayrton and Alain drove the McLaren-Honda MP4/4 to win 15 of the 16 races. Ayrton won eight races to Prost’s seven, clinching the title by three points. After losing out to Alain in ’89, when their rivalry was at its fiercest, Ayrton went on to reclaim the crown in the 1990 and ’91 seasons, following the Frenchman’s departure to Ferrari.  

Ayrton’s reputation at McLaren was that of an overwhelmingly driven competitor. He’s credited as the first driver to take diet seriously, and one of the first to explore the benefits of a proper fitness regime. Famously, ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, he exercised while his racing peers relaxed on sun loungers, convinced that anything to give him an edge was worthy of his time. Ayrton made sure to perform his exercises in their line of sight, so they knew he was working while they weren’t. His intensity lessened with the arrival of Gerhard Berger in 1990, who helped to bring out the Brazilian’s more jovial side, though his competitive streak never diminished.

Mika originally joined McLaren as a Test Driver in 1993 following two years with a struggling Lotus team, deciding that a future seat with McLaren was a better bet than continuing to race an uncompetitive car. When Michael Andretti left McLaren with three races of the season remaining, Mika was given his chance, and he immediately cemented his place in the team – and created his legend – by out-qualifying Senna at his first race.

When Senna left for Williams ahead of 1994, Mika became the team’s number one driver, but it wasn’t until 1998 that he was in a car capable of challenging for the Championship. In the Mercedes-powered MP4/13, Mika went wheel-to-wheel with Ferrari and Michael Schumacher, who would later hail the Finn as “The best opponent I’ve had in terms of quality”, winning the title in the season finale.

Mika was a fearless competitor and almost entirely unflappable, which made him a formidable rival. He was supremely quick, knew exactly where to put the car, and was never going to be the one to back out of a wheel-to-wheel battle. Off-track, he was reserved and easy-going, but thoughtful and well-humoured - very much the phlegmatic Finn. He’s still a popular presence in our garage to this day.

The next Drivers’ Champion – and the last before Lando – was Lewis Hamilton, winner in the 2008 season after a dramatic final day in Brazil. Lewis had been on McLaren’s books since 1998 and rose through the ranks to much acclaim, being promoted to the F1 team for 2007. After enjoying one of F1’s all-time great rookie seasons, Lewis became a regular winner throughout 2008 and won his first Championship at the last corner of the last lap of the season.

A genuine homegrown talent, the Lewis Hamilton who joined McLaren as a 22-year-old rookie was sensationally quick and fearlessly aggressive. He was also very raw, but eager to learn. Lewis was as dedicated to improving as he was confident in his own ability - a winning combination. He was also deeply devoted to his loyal fanbase, often going the extra mile to speak with fans at at signing events and make sure everyone left happy. Nearly 19 years later, he’s still just about the politest racing driver you’ll ever meet!

Lando, another homegrown talent, having been signed as a 17-year-old, had grown up watching the Chrome-coloured McLarens driven by Fernando Alonso and Hamilton and dreamt of emulating them at McLaren.

The now-26-year-old has grown alongside the team. Together over the six seasons since he stepped up to F1 in 2019, he and McLaren have emerged as a title-challenging force. After winning his first race in Miami in 2024, he went on to play a key role as McLaren won the Constructors’ Championship for the first time since 1998. The experience garnered during 2024 would prove crucial as Lando established his own title challenge for 2025, via milestone wins at Monaco and Silverstone.

Regarded as one of the nicest drivers on the grid, Lando is a modern-day F1 Champion, hugely popular on social media and with an ability to deliver in clutch moments. An adaptable driver, capable of maximising the car beneath him, and with rapid single-lap pace, Lando needed to find greater consistency in the 2025 season. He unlocked this across the crucial end-of-season run-in, overturning a 34-point deficit with nine rounds to go to clinch the title in the Abu Dhabi season finale. Afterwards, Lando said he was proud to have “won it my way”, without being aggressive and by being true to himself.