McLaren’s Brazilian legacy: what it really means for 2025

With twelve victories in Brazil, McLaren remains the most successful team in São Paulo’s history. From Senna to Hakkinen, from Hamilton to Norris, the orange-and-white, and later papaya, cars have long been part of Interlagos folklore. But how much does that history still matter in the 2025 season? With the MCL39 locked in a title fight, it’s time to separate nostalgia from reality. 

A legacy built on a different era 

McLaren’s record at Interlagos reads like a greatest-hits album. Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost dominated the late 1980s, Mika Hakkinen sealed titles here, Kimi Räikkönen triumphed in the V10 years, and Hamilton won his first championship at this very track in 2008. Twelve wins in total, more than any other team.

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But most of those victories came in an era when mechanical grip and raw engine power defined performance. Today’s Formula 1 is a different world, shaped by aerodynamics, tyre temperature, and energy recovery systems. The MCL39, McLaren’s current contender, is a precision instrument built for consistency rather than chaos, and Interlagos rarely offers the former. 

With rain forecast for Saturday and a dry race expected on Sunday, this weekend will test flexibility more than outright speed. 

How the 2025 McLaren fits Interlagos 

The MCL39’s strength lies in medium- to high-speed corners where aerodynamic balance is key. That bodes well for the twisting second sector, where McLaren’s data shows it can match Red Bull nearly corner for corner. But on the long climb to the line, sector three, McLaren still trails slightly in straight-line speed. 

The team hopes its latest update, a revised steering system and new brake cooling package, will help. Norris debuted the components in Mexico and reported “lighter steering and more confidence” through Turns 11 and 12, crucial for maximising traction onto the main straight. 

The early signs are promising: in long-run simulations, the MCL39 sits within 0.1 seconds per lap of Red Bull. On a short circuit like Interlagos, that could be the difference between pole position and the second row. 

The human factor: Norris vs Piastri 

McLaren’s Brazilian legacy isn’t just mechanical, it’s emotional. The team’s greatest days were built on daring drivers: Senna’s passion, Hamilton’s control, and now Norris and Piastri’s duel for supremacy. 

Their contrast echoes that heritage. Norris races on instinct, balancing aggression and precision. Piastri is analytical, patient, calculating. On a track as dynamic as Interlagos, that split could define their fortunes. Changing weather and rapid grip shifts tend to favour the driver who reacts fastest, not the one who plans the most, and that might give Norris an edge. 

But McLaren team principal Andrea Stella isn’t worried about tension. “We don’t want to repeat history; we want to make new history,” he said, hinting at lessons learned from the team’s legendary but volatile Prost–Senna era. 

Sprint as a reality check 

This weekend’s Sprint could expose McLaren’s true competitiveness. Short runs have been a weakness this season, with tyre degradation sometimes higher than expected. Engineers believe the new setup will stabilise surface temperatures and allow the soft tyres to last longer, a key factor on Saturday’s wet-dry track.

A top-three finish in the Sprint would give McLaren momentum heading into Sunday and quiet any talk that Red Bull still holds a clear advantage. “The pace is there,” said Norris. “Now it’s about execution.” 

What the legacy really means 

History doesn’t win races, but it can inspire them. McLaren’s Brazilian record reminds the team of what it once was: fearless, inventive, and united. The difference now is that it finally has the car to match that spirit again. 

If Norris or Piastri can turn that into a podium this weekend, it won’t just add to the team’s Interlagos record. It will prove that McLaren’s glory days aren’t just memories, they’re beginning to repeat.