McLaren smashed by means of the 200 wins barrier within the Formulation 1 world championship in 2025, having ended its lengthy await a ninth constructors’ title the 12 months earlier than. Solely Ferrari has extra, and McLaren’s constructors’ success this season places it away from Williams and into second on the all-time listing.
The Woking workforce, now underneath the stewardship of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, has taken over because the pacesetter within the remaining 12 months of F1’s second ground-effect period and is into what could possibly be described as its fourth purple patch.
Meaning there are many nice machines to select from when choosing out McLaren’s 10 greatest F1 automobiles. And a few cool automobiles miss out, such because the speedy however unlucky MP4-20 from 2005 and the didn’t-quite-get-the-job-done MP4-27 of 2012.
Right here, then, is our choice, considering every automotive’s success, innovation and the opposition they confronted.
10. McLaren-Honda MP4/6
12 months: 1991
Wins: 8
Drivers’ titles: 1 (Ayrton Senna, 1991)
Constructors’ titles: 1 (1991)
The MP4/6 began 1991 with 4 straight wins, however the marketing campaign was not plain crusing for McLaren and Ayrton Senna.
For a lot of the center of the season, Senna’s MP4/6 had reliability points, rising gasoline consumption as Honda developed its V12 engine inflicting the Brazilian to expire of gasoline at Silverstone and Hockenheim.
PLUS: The V12 experiment that yielded Senna’s final F1 title
Maybe extra worryingly, the Williams-Renault mixture got here on robust. The FW14 was the higher race automotive for a lot of the season, although gearbox points and workforce errors meant Williams did not at all times profit from it.
PLUS: The key mistakes behind a lost Williams title
McLaren and Honda responded strongly, Senna brilliantly taking pole and profitable the Hungarian GP in August, then fortuitously profitable in Belgium. McLaren outpaced Williams in Japanese GP qualifying and, when Nigel Mansell went off in his Williams, Senna’s title was confirmed. He then handed the Suzuka win to team-mate Gerhard Berger.
McLaren received the constructors’ title by 14 factors and the MP4/6 was the final F1 automotive to win the world championship utilizing a V12 engine or handbook transmission.
9. McLaren-Mercedes MP4-22
12 months: 2007
Wins: 8
Drivers’ titles: 0
Constructors’ titles: 0
The success of the MP4-22 is considerably tainted by the ‘Spygate’ scandal, by which McLaren was discovered responsible of benefiting from secret Ferrari technical data. This resulted in a report $100million wonderful and McLaren being kicked out of the constructors’ championship.
However, on-track, the automotive delivered. It received eight of the season’s 17 races and outscored chief rival Ferrari. Solely exclusion prevented it taking the constructors’ crown and it was each faster in comparison with rivals and scored extra wins than the MP4-23 with which Lewis Hamilton took his first drivers’ crown in 2008.
The 2007 drivers’ title was misplaced partly because of the rivalry between reigning world champion Alonso and rookie Hamilton, who each scored 109 factors and have been crushed by Ferrari’s Raikkonen on 110.
The MP4-22 was very dependable, supplied a stable basis for a rookie to make a right away influence on F1, and there was not a single race by which a minimum of one of many automobiles did not make the rostrum. It has a powerful case for being one of many biggest McLarens to not win a title.
8. McLaren-Mercedes MP4-14
12 months: 1999
Wins: 7
Drivers’ titles: 1 (Mika Hakkinen, 1999)
Constructors’ titles: 0
On the launch of the MP4-14, workforce boss Ron Dennis described the automotive as a illustration of “the largest single step we felt we may take for 1999 with maybe the smallest ever proportion of carry-over elements from final 12 months’s automotive”. Nonetheless, because of the intricate design of the automotive, and this low proportion of carry-over elements, plenty of the 12 months was spent fixing teething issues.
The season began disappointingly, with each automobiles dropping out of the Australian season opener regardless of locking out the entrance row. It set the theme for the season. The MP4-14 was comfortably the quickest automotive of the season – as proved by 11 poles from 16 races – however a spread of issues, from driver errors to a wheel falling off Mika Hakkinen’s automotive at Silverstone, saved Ferrari in rivalry.
Regardless of Michael Schumacher lacking six races following his leg-breaking British GP crash, Ferrari took the constructors’ crown, although Hakkinen did beat Eddie Irvine to the drivers’ title.
7. McLaren-Ford MP4/1
Years: 1981-83
Wins: 6
Drivers’ titles: 0
Constructors’ titles: 0
McLaren was struggling badly when it merged with the Undertaking 4 Racing F2 workforce and it didn’t take lengthy for Dennis and his workforce to make an influence. Designer John Barnard’s MP4/1 not solely took the workforce again to the entrance, it was progressive.
The MP4/1 had the primary totally carbon composite F1 monocoque. Stiffer, lighter and safer than typical chassis, carbon fibre would quickly turn out to be de rigueur in single-seater racing.
John Watson’s 140mph crash at Monza in 1981, which he was capable of stroll away from, underlined the automotive’s power and it was additionally a winner. Watson’s widespread 1981 British GP success was McLaren’s first for 4 years and he went on to complete simply 5 factors behind world champion Keke Rosberg in a dramatic 1982 season.
PLUS: John Watson’s top 10 greatest races
The MP4/1 by no means received a title however Watson and Niki Lauda received six races throughout a three-year interval.
High 10: Niki Lauda’s 10 greatest races
The automotive additionally launched McLaren’s most-successful period and was a design milestone for F1.
6. McLaren-Honda MP4/5
Years: 1989-90
Wins: 16
Drivers’ titles: 2 (Alain Prost 1989, Ayrton Senna 1990)
Constructors’ titles: 2 (1989-90)
McLaren’s 1989 season is greatest remembered for the more and more poisonous relationship between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, their Suzuka conflict and the following controversy. And that tends to overshadow the truth that the MP4/5 was one other nice McLaren.
In uncooked tempo phrases, it was nearly as far forward of rivals as its fabled predecessor, the MP4/4, nevertheless it wasn’t as dependable. Engine and transmission points – and a few incidents – restricted the MP4/5 to ‘solely’ 10 wins from 16 races as McLaren stormed to a different title double.
The revised MP4/5B confronted more durable opposition from Ferrari (now with Prost in purple) however its highly effective Honda V10 engine, to not point out one other controversial Senna-Prost crash at Suzuka, helped McLaren to a different title double.
The mannequin’s remaining tally was 16 wins and 27 poles from 32 outings, together with 4 championship successes, scored at a time when McLaren’s opposition was getting stronger.
5. McLaren-Mercedes MP4-13
12 months: 1998
Wins: 9
Drivers’ titles: 1 (Mika Hakkinen, 1998)
Constructors’ titles: 1 (1998)
In 1998, McLaren and Ferrari have been really in a category of their very own. McLaren took the constructors’ title with 156 factors to Ferrari’s 133, whereas the remainder of the sphere solely managed 127 factors between them.
The MP4-13 was the primary McLaren designed by Adrian Newey and, after lapping the opposition within the first race of the season, it was met with elevated scrutiny. Regardless of the FIA giving McLaren the all-clear throughout winter testing for the uneven braking system, following campaigning from Ferrari, the braking system was deemed unlawful, and the brakes have been faraway from the automotive.
Banned: F1’s novel steering solutions
Regardless of that, McLaren remained the dominant power within the first 12 months of the narrow-car, grooved-tyres rules. The MP4-13 took 12 of the primary 13 poles of the season and in the end ended the workforce’s seven-year await a title, Hakkinen including the drivers’ laurels to the constructors’ success.
4. McLaren-Mercedes MCL39
Race winner Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Picture by: Erik Junius
12 months: 2025
Wins: 12*
Drivers’ titles: quickly to be 1? (2025)
Constructors’ titles: 1 (2025)
* As of 2025 Singapore GP
The MCL38, which lastly challenged Crimson Bull’s domination of F1 and ended McLaren’s await its first constructors’ crown since 1998, deserves an honourable point out right here. However it was the MCL39, overseen by chief designer Rob Marshall, that actually stamped McLaren’s authority on F1 and underlined the workforce’s new period had arrived.
Regardless of starring performances from Max Verstappen for Crimson Bull and George Russell at Mercedes, the 2025 title battle has been between McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Whereas different automobiles have been near and infrequently matched the MCL39 in qualifying, its sort use of the tyres has given it a definite benefit in most races – and left rivals scratching their heads. There’s been a current wobble, however the race tempo continues to be there and it could be a shock if the MCL39 didn’t add to its win tally.
If there’s a draw back, it’s that the F1 rule modifications for 2026 imply that, just like the MP4/4, the MCL39 is the top of a line. McLaren will probably be hoping it will possibly proceed its place on the prime of the game throughout 2025-26 because it did in 1988-89 however, even when it doesn’t, the MCL39 has already accomplished sufficient to be right here because it appears set to ship the workforce’s first F1 title double since 1998.
3. McLaren-Honda MP4/4
12 months: 1988
Wins: 15
Drivers’ titles: 1 (Ayrton Senna, 1988)
Constructors’ titles: 1 (1988)
A fan favourite and possibly the most famous of all McLarens, the MP4/4 received 15 from 16 races in 1988, with Senna and Prost combating an epic title battle nicely away from the remainder.
The Honda-powered automotive’s uncooked tempo benefit was better than some other McLaren in world championship historical past and was crushed to pole solely as soon as. Its effectivity in races was hardly ever matched and it was dependable, scoring 10 1-2s.
Senna’s drive to clinch his first title at Suzuka was additionally one in every of his biggest.
PLUS: Ayrton Senna’s 10 greatest Formula 1 races
The one causes the MP4/4 is not increased on this listing are that the opposition was weak – reigning champion Williams specifically being hamstrung by naturally aspirated Judd V8 energy – and it wasn’t notably progressive, turbocars being outlawed for 1989.
PLUS: The origins of McLaren-Honda’s greatest racer
Nonetheless, Neil Trundle, former chief mechanic to Senna, insists the MP4/4 is “the proper package deal, nonetheless the bottom and sleekest trying automotive on show on the HQ”.
2. McLaren-Ford M23
Years: 1973-77
Wins: 16
Drivers’ titles: 2 (Emerson Fittipaldi 1974, James Hunt 1976)
Constructors’ titles: 1 (1974)
The primary McLaren to win an F1 crown, the M23 took 16 victories and three championships in its lengthy profession. For those who embrace its non-championship wins, it’s the second most profitable F1 McLaren and is definitely one of the important.
Designer Gordon Coppuck utilized Colin Chapman’s pondering with the Lotus 72 – wedge form and aspect radiators – and expertise from his McLaren M16 Indycar to create the M23, which took a sensational pole on its debut within the arms of Denny Hulme.
PLUS: The McLaren that rendered its Indy rivals obsolete
The M23 ought to maybe have received extra races throughout its first season in 1973 however the arrival of Emerson Fittipaldi the next 12 months raised the workforce’s sport. Mixed with dangerous luck for the revitalised Ferrari, that was sufficient to safe each championships in 1974.
PLUS: Fittipaldi’s prophetic title that justified his McLaren switch
Ferrari received its act collectively in 1975 however there was nonetheless time for one more title problem with the M23. After Fittipaldi left, the speedy James Hunt stepped in and took a dramatic drivers’ crown in 1976 following an epic battle with Lauda (Ferrari). And Hunt took the ageing automotive to 3 poles early on in 1977.
PLUS: When McLaren conquered F1 and the Indy 500
1. McLaren-TAG MP4/2
Years: 1984-86
Wins: 22
Drivers’ titles: 3 (Niki Lauda 1984, Alain Prost 1985-86)
Constructors’ titles: 2 (1984-85)
The right mixture of Barnard’s carbon fibre monocoque and ‘Coke bottle’ design, the TAG-badged Porsche engine, gasoline administration system by Bosch, and tyres from Michelin resulted in McLaren’s first interval of true F1 domination.
All the pieces realized from the MP4/1 was integrated into the design, Dennis had persuaded Porsche to re-enter F1, and there was backing from Marlboro.
PLUS: The McLaren that improved on its revolutionary forebear
Lauda and Prost placed on a personal contest for the 1984 world title, scoring 12 wins from 16 races because the Austrian famously beat his youthful French team-mate to the title by half some extent.
PLUS: How Lauda won F1’s closest title battle
The package deal, developed over a three-year interval, took each titles once more in 1985 (now with Goodyear rubber) and was nonetheless ok in 1986 for Prost to attain an excellent second drivers’ crown towards the extra speedy Williams-Hondas.
The MP4/2’s remaining tally of twenty-two grand prix victories and 5 championships is unmatched in McLaren’s historical past.
PLUS: The McLaren that gave Prost his F1 breakthrough
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