Lando Norris stands on the threshold of joining an exclusive list as he enters the upcoming season looking to retain his title.
Should he successfully defend his 2025 world championship with McLaren in 2026, the 26-year-old Briton will become one of the very few drivers who achieved back-to-back titles with the Woking-based team.
Only three names have accomplished this feat in McLaren's 60-year history: Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and Mika Hakkinen.
Prost's achievements in 1985 and 1986 remains particularly significant. When the Frenchman clinched his second consecutive title at Adelaide in 1986, he became the first F1 driver to defend the championship since Jack Brabham, 26 years prior.
That 1986 victory came amid fuel consumption concerns that nearly derailed his triumph, yet Prost crossed the line just 4.2 seconds ahead of Nelson Piquet.
Senna followed with consecutive championships in 1990 and 1991, though his reign came after a failed defence attempt in 1989 when team-mate Prost took the crown.
Hakkinen then completed the trinity with back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999, dominating the late 1990s alongside Mercedes power.
Norris enters 2026 acutely aware of F1's unforgiving nature and the major regulation overhaul could cause some upset in the pecking order.
Yet McLaren's momentum is undeniable, having secured consecutive constructors' championships in 2024 and 2025. If Norris navigates 2026 successfully, he will etch his name alongside McLaren legends.
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