Lando Norris to Run Number 1 on His Car in 2026
Lando Norris, the newly crowned Formula 1 world champion, has announced that he will be running the number 1 on his car in the 2026 season. This decision comes after his historic win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he secured the drivers’ championship title. According to tradition, the reigning champion has the option to run the number 1 on their car, and Norris has chosen to exercise this option.
The tradition of the reigning champion running the number 1 on their car dates back to the early days of Formula 1. However, in 2014, the sport introduced a new system where drivers were allocated a career-long number, which they could choose to keep even if they won the championship. This led to some champions, like Lewis Hamilton, opting to stick with their original number rather than switching to the number 1. Nevertheless, Norris has decided to follow in the footsteps of other champions like Max Verstappen, who has proudly run the number 1 on his car for the past four seasons.
Norris’ Decision to Run Number 1
In an interview with Sky Sports, Norris explained that his decision to run the number 1 was motivated by a desire to symbolize the efforts of his mechanics and engineers. “It’s tradition,” he said. “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.” Norris believes that running the number 1 will be a source of pride for his entire team, and not just himself. “All of us as a team that gets to have a role in McLaren, or my car, will get to wear that with pride,” he added.
Norris revealed that he had to make a decision on which number to run the day after his title success in Abu Dhabi. He believes that the number 1 will be on his car as early as Tuesday’s Pirelli tire test in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has expressed his desire to switch to the number 3 next year, but is awaiting confirmation from the FIA that he will be able to change from his current number 33.
A Brief History of Formula 1 Numbering Systems
Prior to the introduction of career numbers in 2014, the reigning champion would always use the number 1, with their teammate running the number 2. The rest of the cars on the grid would be allocated numbers in ascending order based on where the team finished in the constructors’ championship. Between 1974 and 1995, teams tended to use the same numbers each year, although number pairings would occasionally switch between constructors.
For example, Ferrari used the numbers 11 and 12 between 1974 and 1979, before Jody Scheckter won the title with the team and ran the number 1 in 1980. Lotus then took over the numbers 11 and 12. Ferrari famously ran the numbers 27 and 28 between 1981 and 1995, with the exception of 1990 when reigning champion Alain Prost joined the team from McLaren and brought the numbers 1 and 2 with him.
Prior to 1974, numbers were allocated by race promoters at each event. The current system, which allows drivers to choose their own career-long number, has been in place since 2014. While some drivers have chosen to stick with their original number, others like Norris have opted to run the number 1 as a symbol of their championship win.
As the 2026 season approaches, fans will be eager to see Norris and his team in action, with the number 1 proudly displayed on their car. With his championship win, Norris has proven himself to be a talented and dedicated driver, and his decision to run the number 1 is a testament to his commitment to the sport and his team.
