McLaren on the up but still a hard climb ahead

Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - November 30, 2019 McLaren's Carlos Sainz Jr. in action during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Former champions McLaren left the Abu Dhabi Formula One finale celebrating their best championship finish since their time as grand prix winners, but team boss Zak Brown isn't expecting any miracles to speed up their climb back into the sport's elite.

The Woking-based outfit ended the season fourth in the overall constructors' standings, their highest finish since 2012, the year they last won a race.