Norris to Race with Number 1 in 2026 After Claiming Maiden F1 Title

Sports

Lando Norris has officially confirmed that he will race with the number 1 on his McLaren next season, following his first Formula 1 World Championship triumph in Abu Dhabi. The number is traditionally reserved for the reigning world champion and marks a powerful symbol of Norris’s rise to the top of the sport.

Speaking after the season finale, Norris said that choosing to run the number 1 is not just a personal milestone but a tribute to the entire McLaren organisation. He described it as a moment of pride for the mechanics, engineers and every team member who contributed to McLaren’s first Drivers’ Championship since 2008. According to Norris, carrying the number 1 reflects the group effort behind a season that demanded resilience, consistency and calm execution under pressure.

Norris’s decision also brings an end to his long-running association with his iconic number 4, a number he has carried throughout his F1 career. While sentimental, he admitted that switching to number 1 is a privilege few drivers ever get to experience, and one he intends to enjoy fully during his championship-defence campaign.

His title-winning season was one of the most tightly contested in recent years. The battle with Max Verstappen went down to the final race, with Norris securing the championship by delivering a composed podium finish in Abu Dhabi. His triumph was met with emotional celebrations across the McLaren garage as the team marked a defining moment in their modern history.

The number 1 has not appeared on a McLaren since the days of their past champions, making Norris’s choice both a nod to the team’s legacy and a signal of their resurgence. For fans, the sight of the papaya-orange car carrying the number 1 will stand as a bold reminder that a new world champion is leading the grid into 2026.

With confidence high and momentum on McLaren’s side, the next chapter of Norris’s journey begins not just with a new number but with the full weight and honour of being the sport’s newest champion.