Lando Norris takes number 1 from Max Verstappen for 2026

Lando Norris, the Formula 1 satellite champion driving for McLaren, volition instrumentality implicit the fig 1 connected his car from adjacent season, taking it from Max Verstappen. The 23-year-old Briton volition beryllium wearing the prestigious fig for the archetypal clip successful his career, having antecedently driven fig 4 since his debut successful 2019. F1 rules authorities that lone the reigning champion tin deterioration the fig 1, and Norris volition instrumentality implicit from Max Verstappen, who has utilized the fig since 2022. Lewis Hamilton, a aggregate champion, has ne'er worn the fig 1, but has stuck with his 44.

“It’s a tradition. It’s determination for a reason. It’s determination due to the fact that you tin effort to triumph it, you tin enactment hard to get it,” Norris told Sky Sports.News.

"To each of america astatine McLaren, whether we enactment connected my car oregon the team, it volition beryllium a recognition. It's my mechanics, my engineers, everyone who is portion of McLaren volition besides person that recognition," helium added.

"So it's not conscionable for me, but for them arsenic well. It's their pride, knowing that they've enactment successful a batch of effort and work, truthful they tin say: we're fig one. It's not truthful chill erstwhile you accidental we're fig four, truthful they'll beryllium adjacent happier than me!"

Since 2014, drivers person been allowed to support their chosen number, but from 2026, the regularisation allows the fig to beryllium changed from twelvemonth to year. However, Verstappen would suffer his close to fig 1 due to the fact that helium is nary longer the champion. Before that, helium drove fig 33, and antecedently said his favourite was fig 3, which was utilized by Daniel Ricciardo.

Norris won the title by conscionable 2 points ahead

Norris won the title by conscionable 2 points up of four-time champion Max Verstappen and 13 up of teammate Oscar Piastri. He became the 11th Briton to triumph a Formula One title, and was congratulated by galore athletes and celebrities, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NBA prima Jimmy Butler, Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz and satellite darts champion Luke Littler.

“It was a large moment. An unthinkable accomplishment for maine and galore different radical who are portion of this large journey,” said Norris.

“I had to observe well, bask the moment, due to the fact that it is uncommon for anyone. It could beryllium a unsocial moment, possibly the lone one, truthful I had to marque it unforgettable.”

“I person a batch of messages! There are a batch connected Instagram, a batch of legends, a batch of unthinkable athletes oregon personalities and a batch of radical I person met astir the world. That is ever an added bonus to everything,” concluded Norris.