Paddock Unfiltered – McLaren’s Rise and Downfall
I have some thoughts about this topic. On one hand, I am not that much of a McLaren fan for their downfall to really hurt me. But that doesn’t mean I can’t empathize with them. Because when you look at where McLaren stood just a year ago, it is hard not to wonder what exactly went wrong.
The Peak Season of McLaren – 2025
The 2025 season was a very strong one for McLaren. They didn’t just have one Championship contender. They had two. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were both fighting for the title, and for a good part of the season, it looked like the Championship would stay within the team.
Lando looked particularly strong at the beginning of the season. But as the pressure started to build, mistakes became more frequent. Oscar Piastri had the opportunity to close the gap and put himself in an even stronger position.
Eventually, Lando was able to pull himself together and get back into the fight. And while McLaren was busy fighting itself, there was Max. Of course, there was Max.
As the 2025 season went on, Verstappen managed to gain enough points to become a serious contender for the Championship once again. What had started as a battle between two McLaren drivers turned into a three-way fight that went all the way to the final race.
In the end, the Championship was decided by just a handful of points.
Lando Norris only needed to finish third in Abu Dhabi to secure his first World Championship. And while the title was ultimately his, the possibility of Max Verstappen catching up was still there until the very end.
It was a season that showed just how strong McLaren could be. Two drivers fighting for the title, a car capable of winning races, and a team that had finally found its way back to the top.
And then came 2026.
2026 – The Downfall
I don’t really know what is up with McLaren this year. But if I look back at the season so far, I am tempted to say that even Ferrari is stronger than McLaren this year.
And we all know the Ferrari cycle.
My guess would be that McLaren is struggling to cope with the regulations of the 2026 season. The cars have become something entirely different from what they were before. The changes have been massive, and maybe McLaren simply wasn’t able to find the right direction with their car.
Of course, that is just my assumption. But it is hard to ignore the contrast between the team we saw in 2025 and the one we are seeing now.
McLaren had everything going for them. They had two incredibly strong drivers, a Championship-winning car, and the momentum that comes with finally reaching the top.
Now, it feels like they are trying to figure out how to get back there.
And for Lando Norris, that must be a particularly difficult situation to be in.
Norris’ Perspective – The Pain of Being a Champion
And then there is Lando Norris.
I can’t help but wonder what this season must feel like from his perspective. After years of fighting his way up, he finally achieved what every driver dreams of. He became a World Champion. And he did it with McLaren, the team that stood by him throughout his entire Formula 1 career.
But what happens when the car that helped you reach the top is no longer capable of giving you the same opportunities?
Winning a Championship changes everything. The expectations are different, the pressure is different, and suddenly, people look at you differently. You are no longer the driver who is still trying to prove himself. You are the one who has already done it.
And yet, the next season can make you feel like you have to prove everything all over again.
I don’t think Lando suddenly became a worse driver. At least, that is not how I see it. But when the car is not where it needs to be, even the best drivers can find themselves struggling. And after a season like 2025, I can only imagine how frustrating that must be.
Because winning a Championship is one thing. Having the chance to fight for another one is something entirely different.
And maybe that is what makes this whole situation so painful to watch. Not because Lando has suddenly lost his ability, but because we have already seen what he is capable of when everything comes together.