Why history is already stacked against Lando Norris’ 2026 title defence

After Lando Norris sealed his first World Drivers’ Championship in 2025, history shows no British driver has ever gone back-to-back immediately after their maiden success.

Lewis Hamilton won his first consecutive championships six years after his debut success. Jim Clark (1963 and 1966) and Jackie Stewart (1969, 1971, and 1973), the only other British multiple world champions, both waited at least one seasons before securing a second title.

With new major regulation changes posing a threat to McLaren’s stability and Norris’ form, the current champion is up against it to claim motorsport’s highest accolade for the second time.

The Lewis Hamilton 2009 warning

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Hamilton’s first championship win in 2008 was followed by a difficult 2009 season.

McLaren struggled to adapt to sweeping regulation changes, leaving its chassis (which boasted a Mercedes power) unit lacking downforce, balance, and outright pace. Brawn GP capitalised, and dominated the first half of the season and finished ahead in the standings.

The parallels for Norris are clear. McLaren must translate championship momentum into a brand-new era, just as Hamilton’s team struggled to do 17 years ago.

Norris is also the first driver since Hamilton to win a title with the McLaren and Mercedes combination – a partnership that has previously shown how vulnerable even champions can be when the rulebook is rewritten.

So despite a successful season on track – with Oscar Piastri also impressing in third overall – regulation changes have the potential to stunt McLaren’s dominance.

Jenson Button’s 2010 struggle

Button moved to McLaren in 2010 for his title defence after Brawn GP was sold to Mercedes, but the same story panned out. It was another case of driving a much-changed car and inconsistent performances adding up.

The crossover to Bridgestone tyres and the change in aero package saw Button unable to match his previous season’s feat. And while there were plenty of podium finishes, there weren’t enough race wins, which Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, and Fernando Alonso racked up instead.

McLaren has tended to start slowly in a regulation cycle; you have to look as far back as 1998 and 1999 for the last time a first-time champion at McLaren won a second the year after – Finnish driver Mika Häkkinen.

Norris lines up for McLaren under similar circumstances as Button, though he benefits by being a more established member of the team.

Red Bull’s instantaneous results

Red Bull has a more recent record of converting first-time champions into multiple-title winners. Sebastian Vettel won four consecutive championships from 2010 to 2013 and Max Verstappen followed with four straight from 2021 to 2024.

A major aerodynamic overhaul in 2022 didn’t slow Red Bull, which arrived mid-way through Verstappen’s title run.

Britain or McLaren?

The evidence suggests Norris’ challenge is less about a ‘British curse’ and more about McLaren’s ability to adapt quickly under regulation changes.

Norris has advantages past McLaren champions didn’t. He’s established in the team, he has strong relationships with engineers and understands the car’s strengths.

But history, regulation resets, and team dynamics all mean that defending a maiden championship is rarely straightforward – even for a talent like Norris.

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