Formula 1's 2026 driver numbers have changed after a regulation update: Lando Norris, McLaren driver and reigning world champion, elected to race with #1 while Max Verstappen, Red Bull driver and four-time world champion, switched to #3.
Permanent numbers were introduced in 2014, and the recent rule change now allows drivers other than the champion to request a number change; Max Verstappen moved off #1 with the approval of Daniel Ricciardo, a former Formula 1 driver who left the sport in mid-2024 and retained the rights to #3 until mid-2026, and Verstappen told Viaplay he prefers a single 3.
Lando Norris told Sky Sports that number 1 is earned and a source of pride for McLaren, and Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi driver, retained number 5 for his 2025 debut, a number long associated with Sebastian Vettel.
This report is based on information originally published by Motorsport.
Read the full article at Motorsport.
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