However, a win for Max Verstappen at the Brazilian GP, and a disappointing P6 finish for Lando Norris may have ended the papaya's championship chances with 62 points now separating the two in the standings.
Despite this loss, the strong driver pairing of Oscar Piastri and Norris is likely to secure McLaren a win in the constructors’, as the team regroups for next year to launch a championship bid, hoping to do the double for the first time since 1998.
McLaren’s strong driver lineup is not only exclusive to F1, but is also present within their junior ranks.
One young star in particular has shone in a recent result at the Macau Grand Prix, with Ugo Ugochukwu claiming a stunning pole position in Saturday’s qualifying race.
The Macau GP is an annual motorsport event, and runs this year as part of the Formula Regional format where drivers across the European, North American, and Asian Formula Regional championships can participate.
Ugochukwu took part in both the Formula Regional Middle East Championship and Formula Regional European Championship in 2024, which has earned the McLaren junior a promotion to Formula 3 next year where he will join PREMA.
"That was by far the most intense quali session I’ve ever had," the young star admitted after qualifying.
"Initially as you said it was the first running in the dry, so it was really hard to know where the limit was.
"We were just pushing it more and more every lap and to get it at the end I’m super happy, especially on such a special circuit, just having to get closer and closer to the limit, but of course there’s no room for a mistake, and that’s what makes it so special. I’m really happy to be on pole."