Lando Norris has revealed his decision to display the number one on his McLaren car in the upcoming season. This honor comes after he secured the 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ championship by surpassing Max Verstappen. Norris finished third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, securing a two-point lead over his Red Bull rival to claim the title.
In the 2026 season, Norris will switch from his iconic number four to the number one, traditionally reserved for the reigning champion. He emphasized the significance of this change, highlighting that it is a collective achievement for the entire McLaren team, including his mechanics and engineers.
Max Verstappen previously raced with the number 33 on his Red Bull car and expressed interest in using number three, last seen with Daniel Ricciardo. However, FIA regulations dictate that a driver must spend two full years away from F1 before their number becomes available for others to select.
While many champions opt for the number one to commemorate their victory, some, like Lewis Hamilton, prefer to retain their unique number. Hamilton, a seven-time champion, has kept his number 44 as part of his personal brand, similar to Norris with number four.
Norris’s championship win ended Verstappen’s 1,457-day reign as the supreme ruler of F1 and marked the conclusion of a long period where every world champion drove for either Red Bull or Mercedes. Jenson Button was the last driver before Norris to win a championship without representing these teams, achieving success 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. He holds the distinction of being the only F1 driver to clinch their first championship after completing more than 150 races with the same team.
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