Lando Norris revealed his decision to display the number one on his McLaren car next season after securing the 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ title, surpassing Max Verstappen. His third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix secured his victory, finishing the season with a two-point lead over his Red Bull rival.
Norris confirmed that he will switch from his signature number four to the number one for the 2026 season, a tradition in F1. He emphasized that wearing the number one is not just for him but also a source of pride for his entire team at McLaren who worked tirelessly to achieve this milestone.
Previously, Verstappen had the number 33 on his Red Bull car, but it is uncertain if he will return to that number or opt for a different one, like the number three he expressed interest in. FIA regulations require drivers to spend two full years away from F1 before their number becomes available for others to select.
While many champions embrace the number one to celebrate their success, some, like Lewis Hamilton, prefer to stick with their iconic numbers. Hamilton, with seven titles, has always raced with the number 44, which has become synonymous with his brand.
Norris’ championship win ended Verstappen’s 1,457-day reign as the F1 champion and marked the conclusion of a 5,505-day period where every world champion drove for either Red Bull or Mercedes. Jenson Button was the last driver before Norris to win a championship without representing those teams, achieving victory with Brawn GP in 2009.
Having raced solely for McLaren throughout his F1 career, Norris expressed his desire to win the championship with the team from the start. He is the only F1 driver to secure their first championship after completing over 150 races for the team where they achieved this milestone.
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