The Marina Bay circuit has always felt more like a stage than a racetrack. Under the bright lights and heavy Singapore air, Formula 1 always seems to find drama. This year, the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix it delivered in full.
George Russell took victory for Mercedes after a composed, near-perfect drive. But even as he stood on the top step, all eyes turned to the papaya orange cars behind him. McLaren had just sealed the 2025 Constructors’ Championship, wrapping up the title with six races to spare.
It was a night of both relief and pride for the team from Woking. After years of rebuilding, near misses, and gradual progress, McLaren’s return to the top is complete.
A Race of Strategy and Skill
From the very start, Russell looked in control. He managed the pace, kept Verstappen at bay, and never let the race slip from his hands. Behind him, the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were locked in their own fierce battle.
In the opening laps, the two teammates came too close for comfort. A light touch between their cars had engineers tense with tension felt between the two teammates as well. The stewards called it a racing incident, but the tension was clear. Both drivers wanted the upper hand, even with a title on the line.
Despite the scare, both finished strong. Norris brought home third, Piastri followed in fourth, and together they scored the points McLaren needed to make their championship mathematically uncatchable.
A Season of Supremacy
This title didn’t happen by accident. The 2025 season has been all McLaren. Twelve wins, seven one-two finishes, and a car that has been both fast and dependable. It’s a level of dominance the team hasn’t seen since the glory days of Senna and Prost in the early nineties.
For team principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown, it’s the result of patience and precision. Years of investment, belief, and quiet determination have paid off. The MCL39 has proven itself to be a masterpiece of engineering, quick on every circuit, consistent in every condition, and trusted by the drivers who push it to its limit.
This win makes McLaren a ten-time Constructors’ Champion, and for the first time in more than 30 years, they’ve claimed back-to-back titles.
Team Triumphs and Tensions
Even in celebration, the rivalry between Norris and Piastri lingers. Both are young, ambitious, and eager to be number one. Piastri currently leads the drivers’ standings, but Norris is closing fast. Their battle has been fierce all season, but it might also be what keeps McLaren at the top.
Two drivers constantly pushing each other has brought the best out of the car and the team. It’s a dynamic that could easily spiral, but so far, Stella and Brown have managed to keep the balance just right.
After the race, Brown summed it up simply: “This title belongs to everyone at McLaren. The drivers, the engineers, the factory. We win as one team.”
The Bigger Picture
McLaren’s success in Singapore is more than just a championship win. It’s a symbol of how far they’ve come. From midfield struggles to absolute dominance, they’ve rebuilt themselves into the powerhouse they once were.
Now, with the Constructors’ title secured, attention turns to the drivers. Can McLaren make it a double and take both championships? With six races to go, it’s still wide open.
Whatever happens, the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix will be remembered as the night McLaren’s comeback was complete. A race under the lights that shone a little brighter in papaya orange.
Featured image credit: eustace bagge
