NORRIS SEIZES NUMBER 1
When Lando Norris sealed the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, he didn’t just earn the trophy; he earned the iconic car number that comes with it. From 2026, the 26-year-old Brit will ditch his familiar No. 4 and race under the prestigious No. 1 on his McLaren machine.
It’s more than symbolism. Only the reigning world champion is entitled to the “1,” and Norris embraced that tradition, not for vanity, but to honour the whole crew behind the car.
As he told Sky Sports: “It’s tradition. It’s there for a reason. … Everyone at McLaren – my mechanics, my engineers, everyone gets to wear that with pride.”
It’s been a dramatic journey. Norris joined F1 in 2019, wearing the number 4 and spent years chasing a title. This season, despite a mid-season dip marked by mechanical problems and momentary setbacks, he clawed his way back, clinching the championship in a nail-biting finish at Abu Dhabi.
Even though Lewis Hamilton has won the championship numerous times, he famously broke with tradition by keeping his trademark number 44. At the time, Hamilton said it’s a number he’s been using ever since his karting days and a number he won’t let go of, even though he was given the option to use the number 1.
Image credit: Motorsport Weekly