McLaren Snaps Red Bull's Incredible Run atop F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

A strong day at Baku, Azerbaijan for McLaren, and a dismal one for Red Bull, meant the lead of the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship changed hands for the first time in more than two years.

Red Bull had led the standings for 55 consecutive races dating back to the Spanish Grand Prix in 2022. Red Bull led in the standings for the final 17 races of 2022, romped to last season’s title with a record points haul, and it led for the first 16 races of this season.

But despite holding a 115-point advantage over McLaren after this year’s Miami Grand Prix, Red Bull now finds itself second in the standings, 20 points behind the new leaders, as McLaren chases its first Constructors’ crown since 1998.

“It is an important milestone in our journey,” Andrea Stella, McLaren team principal, said. “However, the team remain clearly focused on the task ahead, and we use this positive moment to redouble our efforts for the coming races.

"The progress we’ve made since the start of 2023, when we were at the back of the grid, is down to the hard work and dedication from our entire team, as well as the support from our shareholders and partners.”

Red Bull is winless since June’s Spanish Grand Prix—a run of seven events—during which spell it has taken just two podium finishes, courtesy of Verstappen in Britain and the Netherlands. This upcoming weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix has long been pinpointed as a likely weak track for Red Bull’s RB20, even before its recent dip in form, but the team vows to keep pushing.

“We have lost out on some significant points in the championship, however, we will brush ourselves down and fight back hard,” Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, said.

McLaren is shooting for its first F1 Constructors' Championship since 1998. That year, its drivers were David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen. Hakkinen won the F1 Drivers' Championship that season.

F1 Constructors' Championship

Through Sept. 15 race at Azerbaijan

1. McLaren 476

2. Red Bull 456

3. Ferrari 425

4. Mercedes 309

5. Aston Martin 82

6. RB 34

7. Haas 29

8. Williams 16

9. Alpine 13

10. Kick Sauber 0