Lando Norris has revealed his decision to display the number one on his McLaren in the upcoming season. The British driver secured the 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ title by surpassing Max Verstappen, finishing third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to end the season two points ahead of his Red Bull rival.
Norris confirmed that he will switch from his trademark number four to the number one for the 2026 season. He explained that adopting the number one, previously held by Verstappen, is a tradition that signifies hard work and pride for the entire McLaren team, including his mechanics and engineers.
Verstappen previously raced with the number 33 on his Red Bull, and it is uncertain if he will revert to that number or opt for the number three, which was associated with Daniel Ricciardo. However, FIA regulations dictate that drivers must wait two complete years after leaving F1 before their number becomes available for others to use.
While many champions choose the number one to celebrate their victories, Lewis Hamilton, with seven titles, has always stuck with his iconic number 44. Norris’ championship win ended Verstappen’s 1,457-day rule as the top F1 driver and marked the conclusion of a 5,505-day period where every world champion drove for either Red Bull or Mercedes.
Jenson Button was the last driver before Norris to clinch the championship without representing Red Bull or Mercedes, achieving his triumph with Brawn GP in 2009. Norris has been loyal to McLaren throughout his F1 career and expressed his desire to win the championship with the team from the start, making him the only F1 driver to secure their first title after more than 150 races with the same team.
Formula 1 enthusiasts can catch all the action, including practice, qualifying, and races, live on Sky with the Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, which offers substantial savings and includes access to around 100 TV channels, Netflix, and Discovery+.