F1’s current system of driver numbers has already given rise to some iconic brands.
One of the more overlooked Formula 1 rule changes in 2014 – among the switch to V6 engines, a pole position trophy, and double points for the season finale – was the implementation of a permanent career race number for each driver. This change, perfect for Liberty’s era of commercialization, helped strengthen the connection between each driver’s brand and their F1 profile. It increased marketing opportunities for drivers like Team LH44, Bo77as, or #L4ndo.
The previous system assigned numbers each season, creating a messy situation. The world champion took number one, their teammate took number two, and the rest were distributed based on the previous season’s constructors’ championship. The higher-scoring driver from the previous year took the higher number in the pairing. This system also avoided using the number 13 due to superstitions. It was difficult to keep up with, but it did result in a quirk where two consecutive world champions sported the number 22, typically reserved for backmarkers. McLaren’s disqualification from the constructors’ championship allowed Lewis Hamilton to win his maiden title as number 22, followed by Jenson Button in the unfancied Brawn GP the following year.
Button liked the number 22 so much that he chose it as his permanent race number in 2014 for McLaren. Now, F1 drivers are free to choose any number except for one, which is reserved for the world champion, and 17, retired after the death of Jules Bianchi. They also cannot choose a number already in use. Pastor Maldonado is the only driver to have chosen the number 13, but he retired two years later, suggesting that F1 made the right decision to avoid it before 2014.
Certain numbers are reserved for two years after a permanent driver’s last appearance. Mick Schumacher’s 47 and Nyck de Vries’ 21 are still unavailable. However, Liam Lawson’s use of the number 40 while deputizing for Daniel Ricciardo is fair game, as is De Vries’ 45 from his stint as Alex Albon’s stand-in at the 2022 Italian Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso could have been forced to switch his number if his pre-Alpine F1 hiatus had lasted longer.
Despite this system only being in place for a decade, there have already been ten instances of different drivers using the same number. Can you name them all? How many current grid drivers can you remember without looking?
Lewis Hamilton famously chose not to use the world champion’s number one during his years at the top of the sport. However, Max Verstappen has been less shy since winning his first title in 2021. Verstappen’s justification is that he will eventually have to return to number 33 when he is no longer the champion, so he might as well celebrate while he can. After his recent success, it’s unlikely that Verstappen will lose his number anytime soon. Initially, Verstappen wanted to use the number three at the start of his F1 career, but it was already taken by Ricciardo. He settled for number 33 instead, claiming it would bring him double happiness.
Sergio Perez took inspiration from a football icon when choosing his number. Nicknamed ‘Ivan the Terrible,’ Chilean striker Ivan Zamorano wore number 11 for Perez’s favorite team, Club America. Perez not only modeled his race number after Zamorano but also uses it in his email address.
Lewis Hamilton chose the number 44 for his first-ever karting race because F44 was on his dad’s number plate. Although he has since moved away from his karting helmet in his F1 designs, the number 44 and his Senna-inspired lid remain iconic links to Hamilton.
George Russell’s older brother Benjy started karting with the number 63, so when George also took up the sport, he kept it as the ‘family number.’ He even incorporated it into a GR logo.
Charles Leclerc’s first two choices for his race number were already taken when he made his F1 debut in 2018. He settled for number 16, which corresponds to his birthday, October 16, 1997. Leclerc also noted that the number is next to his godfather Bianchi’s number.
Carlos Sainz missed out on his first choice of number 5 due to Sebastian Vettel. However, he found significance in the number 55 because the letter ‘S’ in his first and last name resembles the number 5.
Lando Norris, a Valentino Rossi megafan, avoided directly copying the MotoGP legend by not choosing number 46. He randomly picked number 4 instead, despite it fitting with his hashtag and branding.
Oscar Piastri initially used number 11 in karting but had to switch due to a rival. He settled for number 81 when he first came to Europe and raced in Formula Renault Northern Europe, where he achieved runner-up in his British F4 debut.
Fernando Alonso became karting world champion on July 14, 1999, racing with kart number 14. He has since stuck with the number as it holds sentimental value.
Lance Stroll is superstitious about his number choice. He won Italian F4 with number 18, and his place in Williams’ 2017 driver lineup for his debut season in F1 was confirmed just days after he turned 18. The number 18 million is roughly a quarter of what Lawrence Stroll reportedly paid Williams to get his son into F1.
Pierre Gasly chose number 3 in 2014 as a tribute to his childhood idol, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, who wore that number. Gasly won the 2013 Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup title with car number 10.
Esteban Ocon uses number 31, which he raced to his first karting title in 2007. He also used it when testing for Lotus for his F1 debut in 2014.
Alex Albon chose number 23 because, like Norris, he is a fan of Valentino Rossi. It is half of Rossi’s famous number 46.
Logan Sargeant initially wanted number 3, but it was already taken by Ricciardo. He settled for number 2, which was previously used by Stoffel Vandoorne.
Yuki Tsunoda wanted to use number 11 in karting but settled for number 22 instead, doubling his original choice.
Daniel Ricciardo chose number 3 as a tribute to his childhood idol, Dale Earnhardt. Ricciardo quickly became associated with the number, scoring three wins and five podiums in his first season at Red Bull.
Valtteri Bottas originally wanted number 7, but it went to higher-placed drivers from the previous season. He settled for number 77, which has become part of his Bo77as branding.
Zhou Guanyu chose number 24 as a tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who wore that number for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant’s number was retired after his retirement in 2017, making him the only player in the league to have two numbers retired.
Nico Hulkenberg’s number 27 is based on his birthday, August 19, with the day and month added together.
Kevin Magnussen won the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 Series with number 20, which secured his F1 debut with McLaren. He has continued to use the number since then.
According to the Source total-motorsport.com