How McLaren triumphed in F1 2020's best battle
Three years ago, the McLaren finished ninth in F1 constructors' standings and was in a state of disarray. But in 2020, its recovery continued in style with a smash-and-grab of third place that bodes well for its short-term prospects.
Off the back of its recovery to fourth place in the constructors' championship in 2019, McLaren entered 2020 braced for a tougher challenge to head Formula 1's midfield. The emergence of Racing Point's 'pink Mercedes' in Barcelona and a strong showing from Renault throughout testing left some McLaren team members fearing it could drop as low as sixth or seventh in the standings.
Yet what followed was the best season in McLaren's recent history. Rarely did the team have the third-fastest car (on raw pace it was fifth, just behind Ferrari), yet it was able to beat its faster rivals to snare third in the standings, its best finish since 2012.
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