Lando Norris has confirmed he will carry the number 1 on his McLaren next season after clinching the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship. Under F1 tradition, only the reigning world champion may use the number 1, so Norris will take it from Max Verstappen, who has sported it since 2022. Lewis Hamilton famously chose to keep his long-standing 44 rather than switch to number 1 after title wins at Mercedes.
Norris, who ran number 4 from his 2019 debut until now, said switching to 1 is about more than just himself. He told Sky Sports News that the number is “there for a reason” and represents the collective effort of everyone at McLaren. He pointed out that the mechanics, engineers and wider team share the pride: “It’s not for me, it’s for them as well. It’s their pride, knowing they put a lot of work and effort into everything.”
A regulation change from 2026 will allow drivers to change their car numbers year to year; since 2014 drivers have typically kept the same number after their debut. Even without that rule change, Verstappen would have needed to choose a new number after relinquishing 1. The Dutch driver used 33 before becoming champion and has said his favourite is 3, the number once used by Daniel Ricciardo.
Norris secured this year’s title by a narrow margin, finishing two points ahead of Verstappen and 13 ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri. He becomes the 11th British driver to win the F1 world championship and received congratulations from public figures including UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, NBA player Jimmy Butler, tennis player Carlos Alcaraz and darts star Luke Littler.
Reflecting on the moment, Norris described it as a rare and special achievement and said he wanted to celebrate it properly. He noted the personal importance of sharing the day with friends and family, while also appreciating the many messages of support he received from athletes, personalities and fans around the world.
Max Verstappen has used the number 1 on his car since 2022 (Red Bull Content Pool).
Broadcast note: Sky Sports will show every race of the 2026 F1 season live, beginning with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6–8. Races will also be available to stream via NOW with flexible subscription options.