McLaren continues to shine in the 2025 Formula 1 season, and at the Belgian Grand Prix held at Spa-Francorchamps, the team secured its third consecutive 1-2 finish — a rare and historic achievement in its long and storied legacy. The last time the Woking-based outfit managed such a sequence was between the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Back then, McLaren’s dominant MP4/13 car took victories in Melbourne and Interlagos, building on the 1-2 result at Jerez in the final round of 1997.
The Belgian Grand Prix proved to be another display of dominance by McLaren, as both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris pulled away from the rest of the field, once again turning the battle for victory into a private duel between the two papaya-coloured cars. Despite changeable weather conditions — which often level the playing field in Formula 1 — the McLaren drivers established a commanding lead early on, leaving their rivals with no chance to contend for the win.
This latest result reinforces what has been evident for some time: McLaren is firmly back at the top. The team’s performance at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, followed by a home triumph at Silverstone, and now a third consecutive 1-2 in Belgium, signals a return to form that hasn’t been seen in decades.
In fact, throughout its entire history in Formula 1, McLaren has only ever done better than this once: during the legendary 1988 season. That year, the British outfit — powered by Honda and driven by the iconic pairing of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost — delivered one of the most dominant campaigns in F1 history. The team secured 15 wins and 10 double podiums in just 16 races, between the Mexican Grand Prix and the French Grand Prix.
The Spa result marks McLaren’s 55th 1-2 finish in Formula 1 and their sixth of the 2025 season alone. With 11 races still remaining on the calendar, the team is on course to potentially rewrite the record books. McLaren has a realistic chance of surpassing its all-time best of 10 double podiums in a single season — a benchmark set during that unforgettable 1988 campaign. Even more impressively, the team could also target the all-time record for most 1-2 finishes in a single year: 12, set by Mercedes in 2015.
Should McLaren continue its current form and secure 1-2 finishes at the upcoming races in Hungary and the Netherlands (Zandvoort), the Woking squad would match the all-time record of five consecutive double podiums. This prestigious record is currently shared by Ferrari and Mercedes — both legendary teams who have dominated different eras of Formula 1.
As the 2025 season moves into its second half, the papaya team finds itself not just fighting for race wins, but chasing records that define dynasties. With a driver pairing in Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris that is both fast and consistent, McLaren may truly be on the brink of a new golden era — one that recalls the team’s most iconic past while shaping its future as a powerhouse in modern Formula 1.
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