What McLaren needs to become 2025 F1 world champion at the Singapore GP

McLaren had a first chance to be crowned Formula 1 world constructors’ champion at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but endured its worst weekend of the 2025 season – by far – in Baku, scoring a meagre six points.

As a consequence, the title is yet to be decided, but the upcoming Singapore GP will likely prove decisive.

Having taken 12 victories, including seven 1-2s, in 17 grands prix so far this year, McLaren is in a comfortable position in the standings, with its rivals more than 330 points in arrears. McLaren has 623 points to its name, with Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull down to 290, 286 and 272 respectively – Max Verstappen’s outfit is already out of contention.

But what does McLaren need to take a second consecutive constructors’ title, which would be the 10th in its history?

How many points are still available?

Photo de: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

With seven grands prix remaining in 2025, including three sprints, teams can score a maximum of 346 points – regular rounds offer 43 points, while you can score up to 58 on a sprint weekend.

McLaren’s advantage on Mercedes and Ferrari is 333 and 337 points respectively.

How can McLaren win the title in Singapore?

Despite McLaren’s poor Baku weekend, the situation is simpler in Singapore: whatever happens, the papaya team will be crowned if it scores 13 points this weekend.

Many scenarios are possible, but as long as Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris takes a podium finish at Marina Bay, the team will clinch the title. So far this year, McLaren failed to do so on just two occasions, in Canada and Azerbaijan.

Even if McLaren failed to score any points in Singapore, it would take a mammoth effort from Mercedes to delay its coronation to Austin. George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli would need to outscore their McLaren peers by no fewer than 31 points, with a double podium finish a sine qua non.

The only double podium finish by Mercedes this year occurred in Montreal, where Russell won with Antonelli in third.

What about Ferrari’s slim chances?

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

Photo by: James Sutton / LAT Images via Getty Images

Ferrari held second place in the constructors’ standings before the Azerbaijan GP, where it endured a painful weekend and its drivers ended up eighth and ninth.

The Scuderia needs to outscore McLaren by a whopping 35 points to stay in the game, which means it’ll need to win the Singapore race and have its second driver on the podium too.

This seems unlikely. Frederic Vasseur’s outfit has yet to take a victory this year, and Lewis Hamilton still awaits a maiden podium finish with his new team.

In a nutshell

• Before the Singapore GP, McLaren leads Mercedes and Ferrari by 333 and 337 points respectively
• After the Singapore GP, there will be a maximum of 303 points on offer
• McLaren just needs to score 13 points to win the title, regardless of the other teams’ results – one papaya driver on the podium would suffice
• Even if McLaren scores fewer than 13 points, it will be crowned champion unless Mercedes scores at least 31 more points or Ferrari outscores Andrea Stella’s outfit by at least 35 points