How McLaren Can Win the 2024 Constructors’ Championship in Qatar?

With Max Verstappen having secured the drivers’ championship in Las Vegas, the focus now shifts to the 2024 Constructors’ Championship, which remains wide open as the final two rounds of the season approach. McLaren currently holds a 24-point lead over Ferrari, with Red Bull trailing in third. Here’s a breakdown of what each team needs to do to secure the title heading into the Qatar Grand Prix:

How Many Points Are Left in the Constructors’ Championship?

A maximum of 103 points are still available across the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix. To achieve this, a team would need to:

• Secure 1-2 finishes in both races
• Claim the fastest lap point in both races
• Finish the Qatar Sprint in a 1-2 formation

What Does McLaren Need to Do to Win the Title in Qatar?

McLaren can clinch the 2024 Constructors’ Championship in Qatar if they finish the weekend with at least a 45-point lead over Ferrari. Here’s the breakdown:

• McLaren’s Current Lead: 24 points over Ferrari.
• McLaren needs to outscore Ferrari by 21 points in Qatar, while ensuring they are not outscored by Red Bull by 9 or more points.
• If McLaren wins the race, they only need to outscore Ferrari by 20 points, as a tie would result in McLaren winning based on countback.

In other words, McLaren will need a strong result in both the Sprint and Grand Prix to ensure they leave Qatar with enough points to secure the title before the finale in Abu Dhabi.

What Does Ferrari Need to Do to Beat McLaren to the Title?

Ferrari cannot win the 2024 Constructors’ Championship in Qatar. However, they can still make a push for the title in the final round by maximizing their points:

• Maximum Points for Ferrari in Qatar: If Ferrari were to score a maximum of 59 points (winning both the Sprint and Grand Prix, plus the fastest lap), they could theoretically leave Qatar with a 35-point lead over McLaren.
• Despite this, McLaren could still win the championship in Abu Dhabi, given that 44 points are available at the final race weekend. Therefore, Ferrari cannot mathematically claim the title in Qatar.

What About Red Bull’s Chances?

Red Bull is a distant third in the championship, 53 points behind McLaren and 29 points behind Ferrari. Their chances are slim but not entirely out of reach:

To have a shot at the Constructors’ Championship, Red Bull would need to score 54 points in Qatar, while McLaren scores 0 points and Ferrari scores no more than 24 points.

Given the dynamics of the season and the performance gap to McLaren and Ferrari, this scenario is highly unlikely but still possible under the right circumstances.

As the 2024 Formula 1 season nears its thrilling conclusion, McLaren finds itself in a prime position to secure its first Constructors’ Championship in over a decade. With Max Verstappen having already clinched the drivers’ title, the battle now focuses on the teams, and McLaren holds a 24-point lead over Ferrari heading into Qatar.