SINGAPORE – Less than a year ago, McLaren ended a 26-year wait for the Formula One constructors’ championship in dramatic fashion, clinching it at the Abu Dhabi finale as Lando Norris’ victory saw them edge Ferrari to the title by 14 points.

Now, the Woking-based outfit finds themselves on the cusp of a 10th constructors’ championship with seven rounds to go and retaining the title seems inevitable.

The numbers alone underline the scale of the team’s dominance – 12 wins from 17 races, seven of which were 1-2 finishes – have seen them build a commanding 623-point total, 333 points over nearest rivals Mercedes.

Under the floodlights at the Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, McLaren can secure back-to-back titles if just one of several scenarios plays out at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on Oct 5: Attaining a single podium finish, or if both Mercedes fail to outscore them by 31 points and Ferrari do not gain 35 points on them.

Should they achieve the feat, it would be their first successful constructors’ title defence since Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Gerhard Berger powered them to four consecutive crowns between 1988 and 1991.

Even for McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, their supremacy this season was unexpected. The Italian said at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August that he was surprised by their level of competitiveness.

Norris believes the car has been key to McLaren’s strong showing, with the Briton and his teammate Oscar Piastri also locked in a fierce battle for the drivers’ championship.

Both drivers are on the hunt for their first title, with Australian Piastri, 24, leading the drivers’ standings with 324 points after seven victories, while Norris, who has five victories, is 25 points adrift.

When asked about the secret behind McLaren’s form at a press conference on Oct 2 ahead of the Singapore event, defending champion Norris said: “I think you got the two things. You obviously need the best car.