New world champion Lando Norris will become No. 1 in 2026

Fresh from winning his first world championship, Lando Norris has confirmed that he will drive the No. 1 in his McLaren in 2026.

The traditional honor is reserved for the reigning world champion, a distinction Norris claimed after outlasting four-time reigning champion Max Verstappen during the latter part of the season. Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, but Norris took the drivers’ title by just two points with his third place behind teammate Oscar Piastri.

Norris, 26, usually races with the No. 4 on the nose of his car. But the Briton will happily accept the honor of donning the No. 1 next season.

“It’s a tradition, it’s there for a reason,” Norris told Sky Sports News. “It’s there because you can try to get it and you can work hard to try to get it.

Having the reigning champion race with the number 1 on his car was mandatory until 2014, when drivers were given the option to keep their old number. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was the only driver to decline the option during this period, choosing to stick with his No. 44.

“All of us, as a team that plays a role in McLaren, or in my car, will be able to wear it with pride,” Norris said. “It’s all my mechanics, my engineers, everyone who is part of McLaren who also benefit from this recognition.

“So it’s not for me, it’s for them too. It’s their pride, knowing that they put a lot of work and effort into everything that they can also say: ‘We are No. 1.’

“It’s not as cool when you say, ‘We’re No. 4.’ Then they will be even happier than me! »

Verstappen, who has been racing as No. 1 since 2022, is not yet sure whether he will return to the No. 33 he previously raced with. The Dutchman said he would have chosen his favorite number 3 when he arrived in F1, but the number was taken over at the time by Daniel Ricciardo.

The current rule states that a number must be out of F1 for at least two years before being used by another driver. So, Verstappen would have to ask for permission, with Ricciardo having last used the number in 2024.

Norris entered the season finale needing to finish in the top three in the race at the Yas Marina Circuit in the United Arab Emirates. In doing so, he finished the season with seven Grand Prix victories in 24 events, while Verstappen took eight. Norris has achieved 18 podiums and seven poles.

He is the first McLaren driver to win the F1 championship since Hamilton with his maiden title in 2008.

–Field level media