McLaren MCL38 wins Autosport’s International Competition Car of the Year

The McLaren MCL38 Formula 1 contender has won Autosport’s International Competition Car of the Year Award, voted for by fans.

In a competitive 2024 F1 season, the MCL38 has been voted as the standout design after winning six of the 24 grands prix on the calendar to end Red Bull’s three-year streak of winning the award.

The car allowed Lando Norris to not only break his victory duck at the Miami Grand Prix, but to challenge Max Verstappen for the title after securing four wins throughout the season. Oscar Piastri also took his maiden grand prix victory with the papaya machine in Hungary, and added a second to his tally in Azerbaijan.

With the MCL38, McLaren took its first F1 constructors’ championship win since 1998, having staved off a late charge from Ferrari at the close of the season.

Following its results over the year, which led many to surmise that it was the fastest F1 car in 2024, the MCL38 topped the fans’ poll to beat Red Bull’s RB20, the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 contender in the World Rally Championship, and Porsche’s 963 LMDh endurance racer, which won the World Endurance Championship’s drivers’ title with the trio of Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, and Laurens Vanthoor.

McLaren’s victory was announced on 29 January at the Autosport Awards at The Roundhouse in Camden, London.

Presented the award by 1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill, McLaren team boss Andrea Stella said: “When we started with this journey 24 months ago we didn’t think this was the trajectory but the individuals we have here they made it possible. I am very pleased to be receiving this award with this group of engineers and people.

“I am just so lucky to be surrounded by some incredible people, it is 1,000 people making this car. Actually 1,001, thanks to Zak Brown.”

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Photo by: Lionel Ng / Motorsport Images

This is the first time that McLaren has won the award (as Racing Car of the Year) since 2008, an award the Woking squad has won on seven previous occasions. Its list of victors includes the famed MP4/4 in 1988, along with back to back wins for the MP4/13 and MP4/14 in 1998 and 1999, and further double-wins for the MP4-22 and MP4-23 in 2007-08.

Although the MCL38 started the year short on pace versus the RB20 and Ferrari’s SF-24, it was developed into a title contender – and its series of updates at the Miami race enshrined it as a race winner.

In addition to its six grand prix victories, it scooped eight pole positions over the year, and continued to be receptive to further developments as McLaren’s 2024 rivals started to hit something of a performance ceiling.

The car also took sprint race victories in Brazil and Qatar, adding to its long list of accolades throughout the year.

To find out who our other Award winners are, go to autosport.com/awards