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.

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Written by

James Rees

A passionate motorsport journalist from Wales, with over 30 years of love for the sport. A dedicated father of three, working as a content manager, covering the fast-paced world of Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula E, and IndyCar.

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