McLaren started in 1963 by Bruce McLaren from New Zealand who was known as a F1 constructor but also took part in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race and Canadian-American Challenge Cup. In Formula One racing, McLaren can be called amongst the most successful by winning 162 races, 12 Drivers’ Championships and 8 Constructors’ Championships. They were the first in the use of carbon fiber monocoque, now ubiquitously used by all racing teams. The engines for the cars were supplied by Mercedes-Benz through Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines. McLaren is a shareholder of this company. By introducing the Mk6, transforming the team in 1967 bringing out the first cars in McLaren orange and entirely dominating the1967 Can-Am season.

The Race Begins

The team made its debut in the Grand Prix in the 1966 Monaco race. McLaren saw its first Championship win in the Belgian Grand Prix. In 1969, the team won all the eleven races in the Can-Am. The most successful period can be summed up under Ron Dennis’ early leadership when the revolutionary McLaren MP4/2chassis was designed. A batch of strong drivers like Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Keke Rosberg, and Stefan Johansson driving in this period aided the success, specially Lauda taking the Driver’s Crown and McLaren-Porsche winning the Constructors’ title in1984. In 1985, the win ensured Prost’s victory of his first world title. There was a decline through the mid 1990′s but the team returned to form in the late 1990′s. Mika Hakkinen by winning the last race of the 1997 season in the European Grand Prix was simply showing a taste of things to come. In 1998, McLaren roared into nine grand prix victories. McLaren had won the Constructor’s Championship and Hakkinen gained the Driver’s Championship (1998). Fernando Alonso was signed to drive for McLaren on 19 October, 2005. In 2007, Alonso and Hamilton through the season chalked up four race wins. But the team was disqualified to compete for the Constructor’s Championship. Heikki Kovalainen, driving the second car of McLaren in the 2008 Formula One Season scored points along with Lewis Hamilton. Kovalainen ended third whereas Hamilton won the race. McLaren having fourteen points led to the team’s victory in the Formula One Constructors’ World Championship, giving the driver’s championship to Hamilton. In the final round in Brazil’s season, Hamilton was the youngest and first black man, the first McLaren team member in winning the Formula One Driver’s Championship. McLaren, however, made a poor start in 2009.

Tidbits

The team’s title sponsorships came from: Yardley (1971 – 1973), Marlboro (1974 – 1996), West (1997 – 2005) and Vodafone (2007 – present). In 2008, McLaren position was 2nd with 151 points.