Lando Norris set to break ultimate F1 record as title glory awaits

Lando Norris heads to the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend knowing if he out-scores Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen by just two points, he will be crowned Formula 1 world champion.

Norris finds himself 24 points clear of Piastri and Verstappen, and cannot win the title in the Sprint race on Saturday - but he can during the grand prix itself on Sunday. 

The McLaren driver has 390 points at the moment, against 366 for Piastri and Verstappen, and with 25 points remaining following the weekend, Norris is within touching distance of becoming the first Woking driver to claim the title since Lewis Hamilton 2008, and the 11th Briton overall. 

However, even if the title fight goes onto the Abu Dhabi finale, Norris is set to break one all-time F1 record this weekend in Lusail: the most grand prix starts for McLaren.

Norris currently finds himself tied with David Coulthard on 150 starts for McLaren, with Coulthard's time at the team covering eight seasons from 1997 to 2004. Norris is nearing the end of his sixth season in F1. 

In McLaren's history, six drivers have passed a century of grand prix starts, with the others being Jenson Button, Mika Hakkinen, Hamilton and Alain Prost.

Norris's team-mate Oscar Piastri is currently on 68 grand prix starts, meaning he is due to hit 70 by the end of the current season, and provided he does not miss any races and stays with McLaren, will reach his century in the fifth race of the 2027 season.