Lando Norris has revealed his plan to feature the number one on his McLaren car in the upcoming season. He secured the 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ title by surpassing Max Verstappen, finishing third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a two-point lead over the Red Bull driver.
Norris has decided to switch from his well-known number four to the number one for the 2026 campaign, following in Verstappen’s footsteps. He expressed the significance of the number, emphasizing that it symbolizes hard work and is a source of pride for the entire McLaren team.
Verstappen previously raced with the number 33 on his Red Bull, but it is uncertain if he will revert to that number or opt for number three, as he had previously suggested. FIA regulations dictate that drivers must wait two complete years before reclaiming their number if they relinquish it.
While many champions embrace the number one after a victory, Lewis Hamilton, with seven titles, has stuck with his iconic number 44, which has become synonymous with his personal brand.
Norris’ championship win ended Verstappen’s 1,457-day reign as the F1 champion and marked the end of a 5,505-day period where every world champion had driven for either Red Bull or Mercedes. Jenson Button was the last non-Red Bull or Mercedes driver to claim the championship before Norris, winning with Brawn GP in 2009.
Norris has been loyal to McLaren throughout his F1 career, fulfilling his long-standing ambition to win the championship with the team. He is the only driver in F1 history to secure a maiden championship after completing over 150 races for the same team.
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