New F1 World Champion Lando Norris has confirmed that he’ll use the number one on his automotive subsequent season.
The number one is reserved for the reigning World Champion to make use of in Method 1, with Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen having had possession of that quantity since successful his first title in 2021, operating it via the 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Norris normally races with the quantity 4 on the nostril of his automotive however in 2026 he has opted to take the quantity that displays his new standing as an F1 World Champion, after the Briton triumphed by simply two factors together with his podium end within the Abu Dhabi finale.
“It is custom, it is there for a cause,” Norris instructed Sky Sports News. “It is there as a result of you may go and check out seize it and you’ll work arduous to try to get it.
“All of us as a staff that will get to have a task in McLaren, or my automotive, will get to put on that with delight. It is all my mechanics, my engineers, everybody that is a part of McLaren will get to have that acknowledgement too.
“So, it isn’t for me, it is for them as nicely. It is their delight, understanding that they put a variety of work and energy into all the pieces that they’ll additionally go ‘we’re primary’.
“It isn’t as cool if you say ‘we’re quantity 4’ so they are going to be even happier than I’m!”
Since 2014, F1 drivers have been allowed to choose a quantity that will persist with them for his or her careers. In that point Lewis Hamilton was the one World Champion to say no to run the number one – with the selection being given to the driving force. As a substitute, he all the time caught together with his personal race quantity 44.
Verstappen beforehand raced underneath ‘33’ earlier than turning into World Champion, but it surely stays to be seen if he’ll return to that quantity or apply to vary for 2026.
As for Norris, he’ll roll out for pre-season testing subsequent 12 months with a brand new automotive, a brand new quantity and a new-found confidence because the reigning Method 1 World Champion.
