Lando Norris has revealed his decision to display the number one on his McLaren car in the upcoming season. The British driver secured the 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ championship by surpassing Max Verstappen. His third-place finish at the recent Abu Dhabi Grand Prix secured his victory, finishing two points ahead of his Red Bull competitor.

Norris confirmed that he will switch from his familiar number four to the prestigious number one for the 2026 season. In an interview with Sky Sports News, he explained that adopting the number one is a tradition symbolizing hard work and achievement for the entire McLaren team, including mechanics and engineers.

Verstappen previously used the number 33 on his Red Bull car before potentially considering a switch to number three, which would require special approval due to FIA regulations mandating a two-year absence from F1 before reclaiming a number.

While many champions opt for the number one, Lewis Hamilton, with seven titles, sticks with his iconic number 44. Norris’s championship win ended Verstappen’s long reign as F1’s top driver, marking a significant shift after a period where all champions drove for Red Bull or Mercedes.

Jenson Button was the last non-Red Bull or Mercedes driver to win a championship before Norris, achieving victory in 2009 with Brawn GP. Norris, loyal to McLaren throughout his career, expressed his desire to win the championship with the team from the start, becoming the first driver to achieve this milestone after completing over 150 races with McLaren.

Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports package to include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, along with 135 channels and comprehensive Formula 1 coverage, including practices, qualifiers, and races, as well as exclusive coverage of other sports like the Premier League, EFL, darts, and golf.