The 2023 F1 season had way too many surprises in store for the motorsport fandom. It all began with Max Verstappen, who ruthlessly defeated the entire grid, subsequently creating countless records with nil struggle. But, what really caught the eye of the motorsport community was McLaren’s dramatic resurgence to glory. The Woking outfit suffered a horrendous start to the campaign.
And the odds were fairly stacked against McLaren finishing at the bottom of the constructors’ standings. But, Zak Brown’s rather optimistic squad turn the fortunes around at the Austrian Grand Prix. McLaren continued piling on upgrades, eventually building a podium-winning challenger. Furthermore, McLaren were probably a nudge away from joining the battle for race victories with supremely dominant Red Bull Racing.
Regardless, an impressive season for the Papayas, with 9 podiums in the bag. McLaren were also the second-best team on the grid during the latter half of the season. And now, after a dreamy 2023 campaign, the focus shifts to the upcoming 2024 season. What to expect from McLaren this time around? Can Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri produce yet another magical campaign with the title-winning team?
According to former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan, McLaren could deliver yet another surprise, big enough to join the title fight alongside Max Verstappen and his top-tier Red Bull squad.
Eddie Jordan predicts dramatic 2024 F1 campaign for McLaren
According to Planet F1, Jordan opined that McLaren are currently in the best possible position, with a solid car and two equally competitive drivers. Therefore, with a minor jump in pace, Norris and Piastri could well take on Verstappen in a nail-biting fight for the big trophy.
Eddie Jordan has tipped McLaren to be a “big surprise” package in the 2024 #F1 season.https://t.co/4BCeZjPOK5
— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) December 21, 2023
“There’s a team that I was tough against, some of the things that they did in the past I was critical about and I’ve made my opinion clear. Similarly, I will make my opinion clear about the season they’ve just had and that was exactly it, the breath of fresh air, exactly right,” he said.
“Oscar for me was sensational. For a rookie like that to come in and do what he did against somebody with the outstanding talent of Lando Norris, and we all know about how quick he is, the car has to be very nicely balanced. And they, in my opinion, will be a big surprise next year to most people.”
Overall, it was Mika Hakkinen who foresaw McLaren’s resurgence in 2023, and now, Jordan has predicted something similar for 2024. Will the Irishman’s words come to life? Are we set to witness a historical season for McLaren? Only time will tell.