McLaren in line to claim early Constructors Title in Baku

McLaren head into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend with the rare opportunity to seal the 2025 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship months before the season ends.

With 617 points on the board, the Woking-based team holds a commanding 337-point lead over nearest rivals Ferrari, and the math suggests Baku could be the scene of their coronation.

Such an early clinch would not just underline McLaren’s dominance this season, it would also etch them into the history books.

Only a handful of teams have ever wrapped up the Constructors’ Championship so far from the finale.

The last team to do it was Red Bull in 2023, when they claimed the title with six races to spare.

That equalled Ferrari’s 2002 benchmark and highlighted the sheer scale of superiority needed to finish the contest that early.

For McLaren, the chance to join that exclusive club is especially significant. The team has spent much of the hybrid era in rebuilding mode, often out of touch with the sharp end.

But in 2025, their combination of consistent car development, operational sharpness and driver performances has left rivals trailing.

Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have delivered podiums with metronomic regularity, ensuring points from both sides of the garage.

What McLaren need to do to win Constructors at Baku

The equation is straightforward: if McLaren outscore Ferrari by at least nine points, and avoid being dramatically overhauled by Mercedes or Red Bull in the same race, the title is theirs.

A one-two finish by Norris and Piastri would seal it regardless of what Ferrari or anyone else achieves.

A first and third could also be enough, provided Ferrari falter. Even if the perfect result doesn’t come, the sheer size of McLaren’s advantage means the championship looks inevitable within the next few races.

Still, Baku poses its usual challenges. The city circuit’s long straights and tight walls make it unpredictable, and safety cars often play a role in shuffling results.

McLaren will need a clean weekend to avoid delaying the inevitable until the following round. But even if the title is not wrapped up in Azerbaijan, the outcome seems only a matter of time.

Should McLaren succeed in Baku, it would be one of the earliest clinches in Formula 1 history, a fitting reward for a team that has rediscovered its championship-winning pedigree.

Past early winners

Early Constructors’ Title ClinchesFerrari (2002) – sealed with 6 races remaining

Red Bull (2023) – sealed with 6 races remaining

McLaren (1988) – sealed with 5 races remaining

Ferrari (2004) – sealed with 5 races remaining

Williams (1996) – sealed with 4 races remaining

McLaren (1984) – sealed with 3 races remaining