'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Has it happened before?
McLaren have been in Formula 1 for over 50 years now, so naturally the team will have been through less successful periods before. Despite winning the constructor's championship as recently as 1977, 1980 produced their lowest finish (9th) before their recent struggles. '80 topped off a hat-trick of win-less campaigns, despite one of the best driver line-ups (Alain Prost and John Watson) on that year's grid.
Looking outside of McLaren, Williams - another British manufacturer in F1 - have also endured a long downward spiral recently. Despite finishing 3rd as recently as 2015, the Grove outfit look destined to finish bottom of this year's constructor's standings. It may seem like an exaggeration to say that teams like this could end up leaving the sport, they appear to be invincible, but that's far from the case. Even championship-winning outfits like Tyrrell, Brabham and Lotus have seen their glory days pass by and end up out of business after funds and results dry up. With costs to compete in Formula 1 higher than ever before, this is a very real concern.
