A driver’s quantity was as soon as largely anecdotal — assigned primarily based on the standings of the earlier yr’s Constructors’ Championship and even additional prior to now by the occasion organizers. However they’ve gained huge significance in F1 in latest seasons.
Since 2014, with a view to assist followers acknowledge drivers extra simply, all drivers should select a quantity that can accompany them all through their profession. F1 solely permits a alternative between numbers 2 and 99, with the #1 reserved for the reigning World Champion, although its use is just not obligatory. It is also attainable for a similar quantity for use by totally different drivers over time, because the FIA “freezes” a driver’s quantity for the 2 seasons following their departure earlier than making it out there once more. This has to this point occurred with the numbers 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 21, 22, 28, 88, and 99.
It’s value noting one quantity has been faraway from the record of alternatives: quantity 17, which belonged to Jules Bianchi. Following the French driver’s dying in 2015 from accidents sustained in his accident on the 2014 Japanese GP, F1 eliminated the quantity in his honor.
As for the present 2025 F1 season drivers’ quantity decisions, reasonings range from moderately candy to stunning.
Max Verstappen will carry the primary on his Purple Bull Racing automotive for the fourth-consecutive yr
Picture by: Purple Bull Content material Pool
Max Verstappen seized the chance of his first world title to take the #1, reserved for the present World Champion, and can start his fourth season donning it. If he had been to lose his crown, the Dutchman would revert to quantity 33. He quantity alternative for his F1 profession was determined out of frustration, as his fortunate quantity 3 was already taken by Daniel Ricciardo. Verstappen then added a second 3 to it.
Lando Norris is an enormous fan of Valentino Rossi. The MotoGP legend wore quantity 46 — a quantity that Norris needed to absorb F1 earlier than ultimately altering his thoughts. Ultimately, he selected the quantity 4, which is the primary digit of 46, however holds no specific significance in any other case.
The quantity 5 is a legendary quantity in F1 and the second most used for titles after #1. Used from 2015 to 2022 by Sebastian Vettel, accounting for the two-year freeze, it was lastly out there for 2025. For the Brazilian, nevertheless, this quantity has one other that means: it’s the one he used to win the F3 title in 2023. This quantity can be a part of the 85 he utilized in karting.
Quantity 6 was used from 2014 to 2016 by Nico Rosberg after which from 2020 to 2022 by Nicholas Latifi, making it the primary quantity for use thrice since 2014. Hadjar merely selected it as a result of it was the quantity on the very first kart that was purchased for him. In a while, he all the time most well-liked it every time the selection was out there.
Though it wasn’t his first alternative, Jack Doohan continues to be carrying a moderately coveted quantity.
Picture by: Clive Mason/Getty Photos
Initially wanting to make use of quantity 12, Jack Doohan in the end selected quantity 7 as a result of it was merely a racing quantity he already utilized in 2019. He’s additionally pleased to race with the quantity that when belonged to Kimi Raikkonen.
A soccer fan, Pierre Gasly selected quantity 10 in tribute to Zinedine Zidane, the long-lasting quantity 10 of the French nationwide workforce. However this quantity was additionally utilized by Gasly throughout his victorious season within the Components Renault Eurocup 2.0 in 2013.
Kimi Antonelli selected quantity 12 due to Ayrton Senna, who wore it between 1985 and 1988. The Italian has additionally used it since F4 and believes that “it has all the time gone effectively” with this quantity in his profession.
For Fernando Alonso, quantity 14 was an apparent alternative: on July 14, 1996, on the age of 14, the two-time F1 World Champion gained the karting title driving a machine with the quantity 14. Regardless of two full seasons of absence in 2019 and 2020, the Spaniard had no bother reclaiming his quantity in 2021.
Struggling to discover a quantity he may use, Charles Leclerc relied on math to get to his alternative of quantity 16:
Picture by: Ferrari
Though he was born on October 16, Charles Leclerc dreamed of the fortunate quantity 7 for his F1 profession. However Kimi Raikkonen had it. His subsequent consideration was the quantity 10, however his buddy Pierre Gasly had simply taken it. As a final resort, Leclerc used some calculations and landed on quantity 16 “as a result of 1 plus 6 equals 7.”
Lance Stroll wore the quantity 18 for his titles in Components 4 and the Toyota Racing Collection. “A bit superstitious” — the Canadian caught with this quantity when he was recruited to F1, shortly after his 18th birthday.
Yuki Tsunoda needed to say quantity 11, because it was the quantity he began his racing profession with, however it was already assigned to Sergio Perez. The Japanese driver then doubled it to type quantity 22.
Similar to his buddy Norris, Alex Albon is a fan of the nice Valentino Rossi. However not like the McLaren driver, the Thai driver didn’t select the opposite half of 46; he merely divided it by two, therefore the quantity 23!
Though an iconic quantity utilized by the greats, that wasn’t what affect Nico Hulkenburg to select the quantity 27.
Picture by: Peter Fox – Getty Photos
If we exclude #1, quantity 27 is undoubtedly essentially the most iconic and sought-after quantity in F1. Villeneuve, Senna, Prost, Alesi, Mansell, and Jones all wore it within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineties. However for Hulkenberg, this alternative was merely motivated by the sum of the numbers associated to his birthdate, 19/08.
After driving with the quantity 40 throughout his non permanent stint in 2023, Lawson returned to F1 with the intention of staying and subsequently selected quantity 30 as his everlasting quantity. It’s a quantity he has raced with since he was eight years outdated — selecting it as a result of somebody who taken care of him raced with that quantity. That individual grew to become his “hero” by instructing him the ropes of racing.
Esteban Ocon gained the French karting championship within the Minimes class with quantity 31 in 2007. With fond reminiscences of that yr, the selection was made clear for the Alpine driver as he made his method into F1.
For his first karting race on the age of eight, Lewis Hamilton did not know which quantity to make use of. The Brit then checked out his father’s license plate, which began with F44. The remainder is historical past!
With quantity 5 taken, Carlos Sainz, Williams regarded to double it, whereas additionally giving a nod to the “s”es in his title.
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
Carlos Sainz wanted a little bit of creativity to decide on his race quantity. The Spaniard initially set his sights on quantity 5 (already taken) earlier than doubling it, with 55 representing, in his view, the 2 S’s in his title: Carlo55ainz.
The quantity 63, belonging to George Russell, is definitely a household affair. His brother, Benjy Russell, raced with this quantity in karting within the 2000s.
Oscar Piastri had to decide on a two-digit quantity for his first karting race and the shop he went to solely had 1s out there… That is how he began his profession with quantity 11, which later grew to become 81 when one in every of his opponents was already utilizing it.
Oliver Bearman selected quantity 87 because it represents the delivery dates of himself (Could 8) and his brother (August 7). It’s a quantity he has often used for the reason that starting of his profession.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Aurélien Attard
Components 1
Fernando Alonso
Lewis Hamilton
Nico Hulkenberg
Carlos Sainz
Max Verstappen
Esteban Ocon
Pierre Gasly
Lance Stroll
George Russell
Charles Leclerc
Alex Albon
Lando Norris
Yuki Tsunoda
Liam Lawson
Jack Doohan
Isack Hadjar
Yuki Tsunoda
Oscar Piastri
Oliver Bearman
Gabriel Bortoleto
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Ferrari
Purple Bull Racing
Mercedes
Sauber
McLaren
Racing Bulls
Williams
Aston Martin Racing
Haas F1 Workforce
Alpine
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