youssef_itani
Lando Norris has confirmed he will use the number 1 on his McLaren next year after winning the F1 Drivers’ Championship.
Only the reigning F1 world champion can use number 1 on their car, so Norris will take that away from Max Verstappen who has run that number since 2022.
Lewis Hamilton chose not to use that number after his championship-winning years at Mercedes, instead sticking with his iconic 44.
Norris, who had used number 4 since he joined F1 in 2019, told Sky Sports News of his decision: “It’s tradition. It’s there for a reason. It’s there because you can go and try grab it and you can work hard to try and get it.
“All of us as a team that gets to have a role in McLaren, or my car, will get to wear that with pride. It’s all my mechanics, my engineers, everyone that’s part of McLaren gets to have that acknowledgement too.
“So it’s not for me, it’s for them as well. It’s their pride, knowing that they put a lot of work and effort into everything that they can also go ‘we’re number one’. It’s not as cool when you say ‘we are number four’ so they will be even happier than I am!”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
An emotional Lando Norris looks back at his career up until his world title win in Abu Dhabi
More to follow…
Watch every race of the 2026 F1 season live on Sky Sports, starting with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
