
The McLaren Formula 1 team celebrated a historic milestone at the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest, achieving its 200th victory in the sport. This landmark was previously only reached by one other team—the legendary Ferrari. The accomplishment highlights McLaren’s enduring presence and success in Formula 1, and it marks a significant moment in the sport’s rich history.
Illustrious Teammates and Iconic Wins
Lando Norris’s victory at the Hungaroring, secured ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri, was not only crucial in the context of the 2025 season but also symbolically important for McLaren’s legacy. The 200th win puts McLaren alongside Ferrari, which currently holds 248 victories. Norris now shares company with some of the most celebrated drivers in F1 history, all of whom contributed to McLaren’s previous round-number milestones.
McLaren’s first victory came in 1968 at Spa-Francorchamps, secured by the team’s founder Bruce McLaren himself. This win was Bruce McLaren’s last career victory but marked the first for the team that bore his name. He won by beating Pedro Rodriguez’s BRM and Jacky Ickx’s Ferrari.
The 50th and 100th wins were achieved by two of the most iconic drivers in McLaren’s history: Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. Prost claimed the 50th victory at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1986 during his second World Championship season, while Senna earned the 100th victory at the 1993 Brazilian Grand Prix in Interlagos, his final year with McLaren. Before Norris’s recent triumph, the last major milestone victory—the 150th—was celebrated by Fernando Alonso, who won at Monaco in 2007.
The Ongoing Rivalry with Ferrari
| Team | Wins | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrari | 248 | 22.30% |
| McLaren | 200 | 20.33% |
| Mercedes | 130 | 39.27% |
| Red Bull | 124 | 30.47% |
| Williams | 114 | 13.18% |
When speaking of McLaren, it is impossible not to immediately think of Ferrari. This rivalry is the most famous and longstanding in Formula 1 history. In terms of total victories, McLaren currently trails Ferrari by 48 wins. However, the picture changes when considering win percentages relative to the number of races entered.
Ferrari made its Formula 1 debut in 1950, while McLaren entered the sport 16 years later in 1966. Despite Ferrari’s higher total wins, their overall win percentage is 22.3%, only slightly ahead of McLaren’s 20.3%. This means that relative to the number of races contested, McLaren is closing the gap.
McLaren’s recent surge in performance and victories has breathed new life into the team, which is now led by Andrea Stella, a former Ferrari engineer. If the current trend continues through the 2026 season, McLaren could soon overtake Ferrari in total Formula 1 wins, further intensifying this historic rivalry.







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