Norris Claims Number 1 for 2026 After Securing First F1 World Championship

Lando Norris, Formula 1's freshly crowned 2025 world champion, has confirmed he'll race with the iconic number 1 on his McLaren in 2026. The British driver, who clinched the title by two points over Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi, is abandoning his signature #4 after six seasons to claim motorsport's most symbolic identifier.

Why it matters:

The move breaks Lewis Hamilton's precedent of retaining #44 throughout his championship reign, signaling a cultural shift in how drivers view the champion's privilege. Norris' team-focused rationale also reframes the number 1 as a collective achievement rather than individual glory—a narrative that could influence future champions' decisions.

The details:

• Norris explained the switch embodies F1's tradition: "It's there because you can go and try grab it and work hard to get it." His decision makes him only the second driver in the personal-number era (post-2014) to adopt #1 after winning a title, following Sebastian Vettel's precedent.
• Team pride focus: "It's not for me, it's for them as well," Norris stressed, emphasizing how mechanics and engineers will share in the recognition. "They'll be even happier than I am—'we are number one' sounds better than 'we are number four.'"
• Verstappen's recalibration: The Dutch driver loses his #1 after four consecutive titles. While considering reverting to his longtime favorite #33, Red Bull sources indicate Verstappen is also weighing Daniel Ricciardo's former #3—a choice that would trigger significant merchandise rebranding.
• Historical context: Hamilton famously kept #44 after all seven titles, using #1 only for Friday practice sessions. Norris' full-season adoption highlights evolving attitudes toward championship symbolism in the modern era.

What's next:

Norris' choice sets immediate precedent for how 2026 grid identities will reshape. Verstappen's number selection—expected within weeks—will determine whether Red Bull embraces nostalgia (#33) or pays tribute to his former teammate (#3). Meanwhile, McLaren's marketing team prepares for a global rollout of #1 merchandise, capitalizing on the Briton's first championship season. The switch also reignites debate about whether F1 should mandate champion's numbers year-round, a rule Hamilton's resistance previously made optional. As teams finalize 2026 liveries, Norris' decision proves that in F1, even a single digit carries championship weight far beyond its numerical value.