Can McLaren hold off Ferrari and Red Bull to win the F1 title?

The dual podium from Mexico positioned Ferrari in a three-way contest for the Constructors' Championship alongside Red Bull and McLaren. The asphalt hasn’t been so intriguing in years!

Red Bull secured the 2023 Constructors’ Championship, establishing a lead of over 400 points ahead of other teams. This year, the leading three teams are all within a 500-point range, with a significantly reduced point margin.

The on-track contests this term have reached unprecedented levels of excitement. As we enter the last phase of the season, they will undoubtedly exert maximum effort in the season finale.

When the energy drink-sponsored team won the first two events of the season, no one reacted—that was until Australia.

The 2024 Australian Grand Prix commenced as anticipated, with Verstappen securing pole position and maintaining the lead entering the first corner. At the commencement of the third lap, Carlos Sainz successfully ascended to the first position in a sluggish Ferrari, prompting the realisation that Verstappen's vehicle was malfunctioning, necessitating his retirement from the race. At this juncture, the season transitioned.

A comparable scenario transpired three races later at the Miami Grand Prix, where a fortuitous safety car and additional mechanical issues for Verstappen facilitated McLaren’s Lando Norris in securing his inaugural race victory and McLaren's first win in over three years. This marked the inaugural instance in years when three distinct constructors triumphed in a race within the same season.

The situation intensified over the summer due to enhancements that rendered McLaren the preeminent vehicle in the competition, while teams such as Ferrari and Mercedes heightened the rivalry. The era in which Red Bull outpaced all competitors by 20 seconds has elapsed. Red Bull has now been surpassed.

Besides his spectacular triumph in Brazil this past weekend, Verstappen last occupied the top position on the podium at the Spanish Grand Prix in June. He has failed to secure victory in eight of the last nine races, a situation that has not transpired since early 2020. In his absence, McLaren has readily secured victories.

McLaren Racing has ascended to the pinnacle of the Constructors Championship standings, attributed to Oscar Piastri's first-place victory and Lando Norris's fourth-place result at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix three weeks prior. Fortunately, the Brazil GP, where Verstappen claimed first and assisted Red Bull back into the Constructors' running, saw Alpine and Mercedes prevent Ferrari from a top-four finish, thus helping McLaren maintain the top spot ahead of the Constructors.

It's been a refreshing season for McLaren: Their most recent first-place finish in the standings occurred in the 2014 season, while their last trophy victory was in 1998, over twenty years ago. Given the superior vehicle and one of the most formidable driver pairings in the competition, it is reasonable to conclude that they can secure the Constructors Championship in 2024.

Ahead of the upcoming Las Vegas GP on November 24, and according to the best ranked sports betting sites, McLaren is a heavy favourite to collect the Formula 1 Constructors’ title in 2024 with an 85.7% probability.

A three-way contest for the Constructors’ Championship exists among Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull, all vying for the title. Red Bull now occupies third place with 544 points, a significant decline from their decisive triumph in 2023, where they secured victory by an impressive margin of 451 points.

In 2024, Max Verstappen has secured eight wins, while Sergio Perez has only achieved four podium finishes, jeopardising the team's chance of success. Perez, who placed 17th in his home country race, may be approaching the conclusion of his Red Bull tenure.

Following Carlos Sainz's triumph two Sundays ago and Charles Leclerc's third-place finish, Ferrari secured second place in the standings with four races remaining. The red team has steadily performed this year, achieving five victories and 18 podium finishes in 2024.

They have accumulated 557 points and are in a strong position to enter the final three. Is it possible for them to secure their inaugural title since 2008?

Nonetheless, McLaren is at the forefront. The Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri team leads the Constructors' Championship with 593 points. McLaren has not secured the championship since 1998, and following a 26-year hiatus at the pinnacle, they aim to alter that narrative.

Their prospects are promising, with five victories and nineteen podium finishes; however, can they maintain their position with only three races remaining? Based on recent performances, they’re primed to do it!