McLaren back on brink of glory, four years after cash crisis

ABU DHABI : McLaren are back on the brink, but this time Formula One's second most successful team are one step away from returning to the top rather than being at risk of financial failure.

Four years ago, in a 2020 season hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, the once-dominant former champions were in desperate need of a cash injection.

Sunday's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix could seal a remarkable comeback for the British-based team who have won more races (188) than anyone other than Ferrari (248) - their current rivals for the crown.

McLaren, who entered in 1966 and are the second longest continuous participants in Formula One after Ferrari, lead by 21 points with 44 still available.

They have been top since Baku in September and their status as favourites was only improved by a 10-place grid penalty collected by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

Apart from Williams, whose last championship was in 1997 and who have not won a race for 12 years, McLaren have the longest gap between crowns and - despite claims of feeling calm and relaxed - the stress is rising.

"We're trying to do what got us here this weekend and not kind of race differently, not think about the championship," McLaren's American chief executive Zak Brown, who joined in 2016, told reporters at Yas Marina on Saturday.

Brown admitted, however, that he would be lying if he pretended his mind was not running away with all the calculations.

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

The stress still feels very different from 2020, when the finances led to sleepless nights.

"I needed to protect the team from them being aware so everyone could remain in the very positive energetic spirits they were in, because the team was progressing nicely. So it wasn't a comfortable place at all," said Brown.

U.S.-base