The time for F1 to get rolling again is almost here, but before that comes livery reveals and pre-season testing, as well as a new season of Drive to Survive in February. Much is still up in the air as to who has a shot at winning in 2026, but one thing is for sure, race numbers. There will be five new numbers to look out for this year, let’s go through them!
lando norris: 1
Lando Norris, the British World Driver Champion of 2025, is set to change his classic number 4 for a number only reserved for the WDC, the number 1. 4 will always be his brand, but Lando claimed that he’s doing this for McLaren as a team. Racing with the number 1 is a huge honor that he doesn’t want to pass up on for the sake of the Papaya family.
max verstappen: 3
Max Verstappen, 4-time WDC who was dethroned by Lando in the 2025 season, had to give up his classic number 1. Max chose to race 2026 with the number 3. Originally raced by retired driver and Max’s old teammate, Aussie Daniel Ricciardo, Max choosing this number is quite sentimental in more ways than one. One way, especially for Daniel’s fans, is that they’re happy to see the number back, just not with its original occupant. Many fans of the sport are hopeful that Max will be able to secure his 6th WDC win with the number, a title that never worked out for Daniel Ricciardo, so a win with the number would be a way to honor the beloved Danny Ric.
arvid linblad: 41
The British 18-year-old is the only rookie of the 2026 season. After the news was announced that Isack Hadjar was moving to Red Bull’s second seat, the youngest ever F2 winner was signed with Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls. Arvid chose the number because it’s never been used before and he felt it was “the coolest option available”.
valterri bottas: 77
Valterri Bottas isn’t new to the sport, he’s just making a comeback after serving as Mercedes’ reserve driver in the 2025 season. Now making a reappearance as a full-time driver with Cadillac, he will continue to race with the same number he’s had since 2014, the number 77.
sergio (checo) perez: 11
Like his new teammate, Sergio will also race with his OG double number, 11. Sergio picked the number at the start of his F1 career in honor of his childhood hero, football player Ivan Zamorano. Checo retired from the sport after a not so successful season with Red Bull in 2024. But he’s back again already! Couldn’t stay away, could he? Well, us fans are glad to have him back and excited to see what he’ll do with his Cadillac!
Many classic numbers remain the same, but each holds a special meaning to the drivers, which makes them special to us! xx
The Formula 1 edit 
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