The remarkable turnaround of McLaren from financial crisis to Formula 1 constructors' champions marks one of sport's greatest comebacks. After hitting rock bottom in early 2023 with just 19 points in eight races, the team achieved their first championship in 26 years through strategic leadership and cultural transformation.

The journey began when Zak Brown joined as CEO in 2016, inheriting a struggling team with Honda power unit issues. A switch to Renault in 2018 exposed deeper organizational problems, leading to multiple restructurings and eventually a Mercedes power unit deal.

By late 2020, McLaren was "months away" from financial collapse before securing a $250 million investment from MSP Sports Capital. Under Team Principal Andrea Stella's leadership, a major technical upgrade in Austria 2023 transformed the team from backmarkers to front-runners.

Key to McLaren's success was creating a collaborative culture. The leadership team, including Pete Prodromou, Rob Marshall, and Neil Houldley, fostered an environment that attracted and retained top talent despite competitor approaches.

Driver Lando Norris, who joined as a reserve in 2018, chose to stay with McLaren despite opportunities elsewhere, believing in the team's potential. His faith was rewarded as McLaren not only caught up to traditional powerhouses Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull but ultimately surpassed them.

The team's philosophy, summarized by Stella's "no poison biscuits" approach, emphasizes teamwork over blame culture. This mindset, combined with technical excellence and strategic leadership, has transformed McLaren from a struggling historic name to Formula 1's newest champions.

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