Lando Norris to Run Number 1 After Claiming F1 World Championship
Lando Norris has confirmed that he will run the number 1 on his McLaren next season after securing the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
The number is reserved exclusively for the reigning world champion, meaning Norris will take it over from Max Verstappen, who has used it since 2022. While Lewis Hamilton chose to keep his iconic 44 even after his title-winning seasons, Norris has opted to embrace the tradition.
Norris, who has raced with number 4 since his F1 debut in 2019, explained his choice to Sky Sports News:
“It’s tradition. It’s there for a reason. You can go and try to grab it, and you work incredibly hard to earn it. Everyone at McLaren, my mechanics, my engineers, the entire team, gets to wear that number with pride. It’s not just for me, it’s for them. They put in the work, and now they can say, ‘we’re number one.’ It’s not as exciting to say ‘we’re number four,’ so they’re probably even happier than I am!”
Since 2014, F1 drivers have been required to keep the same number throughout their careers, but new regulations coming in 2026 will allow numbers to change annually. Even with that change, Verstappen would have needed a new number after losing the right to run number 1.
Before becoming world champion, the Dutchman raced with number 33, though he has previously said his preferred number is 3, formerly used by Daniel Ricciardo.
From F1 news to tech, history to opinions, F1 Chronicle has a free Substack. To deliver the stories you want straight to your inbox, click here.
For more F1 news and videos, follow us on Microsoft Start.
New to Formula 1? Check out our Glossary of F1 Terms, and our Beginners Guide to Formula 1 to fast-track your F1 knowledge
Comments
More in News
‘We’re getting entertained’, Damon Hill explains why ‘tactical’ racing is putting on a show
Mario Kart in Real Life: Why the 2026 Japanese GP Crash is F1’s Ultimate Warning Sign
‘It’s just not what I want to do’, Max Verstappen admits there is a lot for him to figure out as F1 future decision looms
FIA acknowledge “high closing speeds” contributed to Bearman Japan shunt, but what’s going to change?
