Norris Claims #1 for 2026 as New F1 Champion

Lando Norris will carry the #1 on his McLaren in 2026 as reigning world champion, ending Max Verstappen's four-year hold on motorsport's most prestigious numeral. The 26-year-old secured his maiden title with a strategic third-place finish at Abu Dhabi, breaking Verstappen's championship streak while choosing tradition over personal branding by adopting the champion's identifier.

Why it matters:

Norris' decision reinforces the symbolic weight of the #1 in modern F1, where champions increasingly opt to keep personal numbers (like Hamilton's #44). His emphasis on team recognition—"It's not for me, it's for them"—highlights how championship success reshapes team identity beyond the driver. This choice also forces Verstappen into uncharted territory: no active multi-champion has ever lost the #1 since the numbering system's 2014 overhaul.

The details:

• Norris raced with #4 since his 2019 debut but called adopting #1 "tradition"—a visible acknowledgment of championship achievement that "all my mechanics, engineers, everyone at McLaren gets to wear with pride."
• Team-first messaging: The Briton stressed the numeral represents collective effort: "It's their pride knowing they put work into everything. It's not as cool when you say 'we are number four.'"
• Verstappen's number limbo: The Dutch driver must abandon #1 after finishing second in 2025. While favoring #3, he faces a regulatory hurdle—Daniel Ricciardo used it until 2024, and F1 rules require a two-season absence before reassignment.
• Permission dilemma: Verstappen confirmed he'd need Ricciardo's approval to take #3, stating at Las Vegas: "My favourite number is three. We just need to see whether that is actually possible."
• Unlikely #33 return: Though Verstappen used #33 from 2015-2021, he dismissed it at Abu Dhabi, saying "probably not 33" while keeping options open through winter testing.

What's next:

Verstappen's number decision will unfold during offseason preparations, with McLaren already leveraging Norris' #1 adoption for morale. The Scuderia's marketing team plans to feature the numeral prominently on 2026 show cars and merchandise, transforming a technical regulation into a psychological advantage. Meanwhile, Ricciardo's potential involvement—whether granting #3 permission or not—adds an unexpected human element to F1's numerical protocol. As Norris noted, this isn't just about digits: "They will be even happier than I am" to wear #1, signaling McLaren's cultural shift from perennial challenger to championship standard-bearer. The 2026 season will mark the first time since 2014 that neither Hamilton nor Verstappen carries #1, reshaping visual identity across the grid while testing whether tradition can coexist with modern driver branding.