The Number 1 will be back on a McLaren Formula 1 car in the 2026 season in the wake of Lando Norris’ World Drivers’ Championship victory.   

Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, officially released the 2026 entry list today, confirming that Lando will defend his crown with the No.1 on his car.  

Under Formula 1 regulations introduced in 2014, each driver must select a permanent number to be displayed on their car throughout their career in the World Championship.  

Lando chose Number 4 ahead of his debut in 2019, and he has entered all of his 152 Grands Prix to date with No.4 emblazoned across the front of his cars, from the MCL34 in Australia 2019 through to the MCL39 in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.  

Per the regulations, the use of the No. 1 is exclusively reserved for the reigning World Champion, should they wish to do so. 

Amid the celebrations and commitments after his title-clinching drive at the Yas Marina Circuit came a decision for Lando to make, and he has opted to run the No. 1 in 2026. 

“It's tradition, it's there for a reason,” Lando said in an interview with Sky Sports News. “It's there because you can go and try grab it and you can work hard to try and get it. 

“All of us as a team that gets to have a role in McLaren, or my car, will get to wear that with pride. It's all my mechanics, my engineers, everyone that's part of McLaren gets to have that acknowledgement too. So, it's not for me, it's for them as well. It's their pride, knowing that they put a lot of work and effort into everything that they can also go 'we're No. 1'. It's not as cool when you say 'we are No. 4’ so they will be even happier than I am!” 

It will be the first time that the No. 1 has appeared on a McLaren Formula 1 car since 2010, when Jenson Button sported it, following his world title triumph in 2009 with Brawn GP.  

Lando will be striving to emulate Alain Prost (1986), Ayrton Senna (1991), and Mika Häkkinen (1999), who all successfully defended titles for McLaren with the No. 1 on their cars. Ayrton was the most prolific McLaren driver to wear the No. 1, triumphing 16 times with the number emblazoned across the front of his cars.  

The likes of Denny Hulme, James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have also had the honour of racing for McLaren and winning Grands Prix with the No. 1 on their cars.  

So, whether you’re looking for Lando on the timing screen, or ready for him to pull out of the garage, in 2026 you’ll have to keep tabs not on No. 4, but on No. 1…