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Lando Norris’ McLaren matches F1’s most dominant car, suggests Charles Leclerc

Originally posted on HITC | By Tyler Rowlinson | Last updated Aug 14, 2025 3:49 PM ET

Just like the rest of the grid, Charles Leclerc has found it hard to keep up with McLaren in 2025. The team from Woking have looked strong from the start.

McLaren’s rise began around the middle of the 2024 season, but by then, Max Verstappen had already put together a lead that was too much to overcome, as he finished 69 points clear.

By pre-season testing in 2025, it was clear McLaren had the edge, even though Norris tried to play down their advantage. It did not take long for him to show just how strong the MCL39 really is.

This season has seen McLaren win 11 out of 14 races so far, six for Piastri and five for Norris. They have also recorded six 1–2 finishes, including four straight across recent Grands Prix. It has left them an incredible 299 points clear of Ferrari in the constructors’ standings.

Ferrari are still looking for their first win of the year. The SF-25’s narrow setup window and strategy calls have not helped their cause either. Leclerc was visibly frustrated after losing out to McLaren in Hungary – he had to be held back from venting publicly about it.

Charles Leclerc compares McLaren’s 2025 car to Max Verstappen’s title-winning RB19

Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

McLaren are currently on course to secure both titles in 2025. The MCL39 has set the pace all season and could end up being one of the most dominant cars F1 has seen.

Statistically, no car tops the Red Bull RB19 in F1’s story. Verstappen and Perez combined to win 21 of 22 races in 2023, with only Carlos Sainz – then at Ferrari – stopping them from a clean sweep in Singapore.

Interestingly, that same RB19 would struggle to reach Q3 today, showing just how far F1 development has come over the years.

Speaking to Autosprint, Leclerc said the current McLaren is on the same level as Red Bull’s historic car.

“I’d say they’re on the same level. The difference is that McLaren has two very good drivers, while RB was banking mainly on Max Verstappen. Both had the fastest car and don’t make mistakes, they’re always there. Both are destroying the competition,” told the Monegasque driver.

McLaren chasing Mercedes’ record for most 1-2 finishes in a season

With ten races left, McLaren are almost out of reach in the constructors’ championship. No other team has managed to keep pace with their level of consistency this season.

They are also closing in on Mercedes’ record for most 1-2 finishes in a single year. Back in 2015, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg put together twelve, and Piastri and Norris are just seven short of that mark with ten rounds to go.

in the last weeks, Norris has narrowed the gap to Piastri to nine points, winning three of the last four races. McLaren are expected to allow their drivers to race freely after the summer break, which should set up an exciting end to the 2025 season.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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