Each Components 1 driver races with a hard and fast quantity. The collection launched the idea of everlasting numbers in 2014 to make drivers extra recognisable to followers on observe, as numbers had been beforehand assigned primarily based on the ultimate standings on the planet championship.
For a few years, solely the world champion was allowed to vary their race quantity: they got the choice to swap their everlasting quantity for the enduring #1. All different drivers needed to stick to the quantity they’d initially chosen. Nevertheless, following a current rule change, different drivers can now additionally submit a request to vary their quantity – one thing Max Verstappen has already made use of.
For a lot of drivers, there’s a good story behind their chosen race quantity. It could be their fortunate quantity, or it might maintain particular reminiscences. On this article, we run via all of the race numbers for the 2026 Components 1 season and the reasons behind them.
The 2026 Components 1 driver race numbers
Lando Norris
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photograph by: Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Race quantity: 1Team: McLaren
As reigning world champion, Lando Norris has the suitable to decide on to race with the number one. After clinching his first world title in Abu Dhabi 2025, that’s precisely what he determined to do. The Brit has subsequently swapped his regular #4 for number one, which he has taken over from Max Verstappen after 4 years.
That was a logical selection for Norris. “The quantity is there for a motive: you must struggle for it, work onerous to earn it. Everybody at McLaren – my mechanics, my engineers, everybody who’s a part of the crew – can put on that quantity with satisfaction too,” he defined to Sky Sports activities on the finish of 2025.
Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Photograph by: Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Race quantity: 3Team: Purple Bull
Max Verstappen had to surrender the number one on the finish of 2025. A return to #33 appeared the plain possibility, however in 2026 the four-time world champion has #3 on his Purple Bull RB22 as an alternative. He has taken over that quantity from Daniel Ricciardo, who left Components 1 in mid-2024.
Till 2025, drivers had been required to make use of the identical race quantity all through their careers. Verstappen was in a position to change to #3 is because of a change within the rules. Drivers can now submit a request and, whether it is accepted, they’re allowed to vary. Verstappen additionally acquired Ricciardo’s approval, because the Australian technically retained the rights to the quantity till mid-2026.
It’s not significantly stunning that Verstappen switched to quantity 3. It was his fortunate quantity when he was youthful, and for that motive he had all the time needed to make use of it in Components 1, however Ricciardo already had it. “Quantity 33 was all the time wonderful, however I merely suppose one 3 appears to be like higher than two 3s,” he defined to Viaplay on the finish of 2025. “In fact I all the time stated it stood for double luck, however I’ve already had my luck in Components 1.”
Gabriel Bortoleto
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Race quantity: 5Team: Audi
Gabriel Bortoleto selected quantity 5 for his debut in 2025. This quantity was used for a few years by former world champion Sebastian Vettel. The rationale Bortoleto picked #5 may be very easy: he received the FIA Components 3 championship in 2023 with that very same quantity.
Isack Hadjar
Race quantity: 6Team: Purple Bull
Purple Bull driver Isack Hadjar races with #6. He has typically used that quantity up to now and subsequently has good reminiscences of it. He was already racing with #6 in his early karting days, and his promotion to F1 means it’s the first time in historical past {that a} race quantity has been utilized by three completely different drivers, with Nico Rosberg and Nicholas Latifi having beforehand raced with it.
Pierre Gasly
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Photograph by: Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Race quantity: 10Team: Alpine
Alpine driver Pierre Gasly carries the everlasting race quantity 10. With that quantity, the Frenchman received the Components Renault 2.0 Eurocup title in 2013. He’s additionally a giant fan of footballer Zinedine Zidane, who wore quantity 10 for France.
Sergio Perez
Race quantity: 11Team: Cadillac
Sergio Perez returned to Components 1 in 2026 along with his common quantity 11. The Cadillac driver has used 11 since 2014 and in addition raced with it earlier in karting. The motivation behind that selection is that Perez was a giant fan of footballer Ivan Zamorano, who wore shirt quantity 11 for Mexican membership CF America for one season.
Kimi Antonelli
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Race quantity: 12Team: Mercedes
Mercedes expertise Kimi Antonelli made his Components 1 debut with quantity 12. “There are a number of good numbers, however 12 is a particular one. That’s due to an idol. I’ve additionally raced with it myself ever since F4. It all the time went effectively with #12, so I see no motive to vary it.” The idol in query is Ayrton Senna, the legendary Brazilian raced with #12 between 1985 and his title-winning 1988 season.
Fernando Alonso
Race quantity: 14Team: Aston Martin
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso makes use of quantity 14, which dates again to an occasion from way back. On 14 July 1996, on the age of 14, he grew to become karting world champion in a kart carrying quantity 14. “From that second on, I knew #14 was my quantity,” he beforehand remarked.
Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photograph by: Ferrari
Race quantity: 16Team: Ferrari
Charles Leclerc races in Components 1 with the everlasting quantity 16. The Ferrari driver was born on 16 October 1997. His first selection was fortunate quantity 7, however that was already taken by Kimi Raikkonen. He then needed #10, however his good good friend Pierre Gasly was already utilizing it. After a easy calculation, he arrived at #16: “As a result of 1 plus 6 is 7,” he defined.
Lance Stroll
Race Quantity: 18Team: Aston Martin
Lance Stroll races his Aston Martin with quantity 18. Within the early days of his profession, he received the Italian Components 4 championship with that quantity, and he additionally made his Components 1 debut for Williams shortly after his 18th birthday. “I’m somewhat superstitious, however I like holding on to small issues which can be necessary to me. I don’t wish to change these,” the Canadian stated.
Alex Albon
Alexander Albon, Williams
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Race quantity: 23Team: Williams
Alex Albon returned to Components 1 in 2022 after a season away. He saved quantity 23, on his return, which he had additionally used through the first part of his F1 profession. Within the sporting world, that is an iconic quantity. Basketball gamers LeBron James and Michael Jordan wore it, as did footballer David Beckham. Like fellow driver Lando Norris, Albon is a giant fan of Valentino Rossi. In karting, the British-Thai driver raced with Rossi’s #46, however for Components 1 he determined to take half of that quantity.
Nico Hulkenberg
Race quantity: 27Team: Audi
Since his full-time F1 return in 2023, Nico Hulkenberg has as soon as once more used quantity 27 – which he additionally used throughout his earlier stint in within the collection. There isn’t a significantly particular story behind the selection: in case you add collectively the day and month of his birthday, you get 27 – 19 August.
Liam Lawson
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Race quantity: 30Team: Racing Bulls
Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson races with quantity 30. He explains: “I’ve been racing with that quantity since I used to be eight. It wasn’t my very first quantity, that was 18. However in my first yr of racing karts, there was somebody on the crew who actually took me underneath his wing. He grew to become my hero, my idol, once I was nonetheless somewhat child. He raced with quantity 30. Due to him, I selected that race quantity too. He taught me every thing about karting once I was younger. I’ve mainly used that quantity ever since.”
Esteban Ocon
Race quantity: 31Team: Haas
Esteban Ocon makes use of quantity 31. The French F1 driver received his first karting title with that quantity in 2007, which he nonetheless sees as among the best years of his profession. He additionally used #31 when he made his Components 1 check debut for Lotus in October 2014.
Arvid Lindblad
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Photograph by: Lars Baron / Getty Pictures
Race quantity: 41Team: Racing Bulls
Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad grew to become the primary F1 driver to decide on everlasting race quantity 41 in 2026. The reason being twofold: on the one hand, the Brit needed a novel quantity that’s not often utilized in sport, and #41 additionally resembles the initials of his identify (AL).
Franco Colapinto
Race quantity: 43Team: Alpine
Franco Colapinto has raced with quantity 43 since making his F1 debut in 2024. Amongst motorsport followers, that quantity grew to become well-known via the late Ken Block, however the Argentine had completely different causes for selecting it: his father used to race with it. Colapinto himself additionally received titles in karting and Spanish Components 4 in 2018 and 2019 with #43 on the automobile.
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photograph by: Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Race quantity: 44Team: Ferrari
Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton races with quantity 44. The Brit used that quantity in his first karting races. On the time, the younger Lewis didn’t know which race quantity to decide on, so he took the quantity from his father’s automobile registration: F44. With that quantity he laid the foundations for his profitable profession and subsequently needed to make use of it in Components 1 as effectively. Even within the years when, as world champion, he had the suitable to race with #1, Hamilton caught along with his trusted #44.
Carlos Sainz
Race quantity: 55Team: Williams
Carlos Sainz selected quantity 55. “The S in my first identify appears to be like like a 5 and the S in my surname does too, in order that makes #55,” which additionally creates a useful hashtag: #Carlo55ainz. On prime of that, 5 is his favorite quantity, however that was already taken by Sebastian Vettel. This self-invented wordplay led him to 55.
George Russell
George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Race quantity: 63Team: Mercedes
George Russell makes use of quantity 63, which additionally has its roots up to now: “My brother all the time karted with quantity 63, so since then it has grow to be our household quantity,” the Briton beforehand defined. With a little bit of creativity, 63 can be learn as GR, that are the Mercedes driver’s initials. Others see it as GB, standing for Nice Britain.
Valtteri Bottas
Race quantity: 77Team: Cadillac
Quantity 77 has belonged to Valtteri Bottas since 2014, and the Finn continues to make use of it upon his return to the grid with Cadillac in 2026. Initially, he had checked out quantity seven, however in the end opted for the double seven.
“At first I assumed I’d go for seven, however in the long run I made a decision 77 truly regarded fairly good,” Bottas as soon as defined. “I simply suppose it’s a pleasant quantity. I’m probably not superstitious or something like that.”
Oscar Piastri
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photograph by: Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Race quantity: 81Team: McLaren
Oscar Piastri has chosen everlasting race quantity 81. He had already used that quantity in his karting years. The Australian began karting in his house nation with #11. When he moved up the karting ladder, he was compelled to surrender 11 as a result of one other driver was already utilizing it. Piastri then selected #81. Within the junior method classes in Europe, he raced with numerous numbers, though he did once more use 81 in British F4 and the Components Renault Northern European Cup.
Oliver Bearman
Race quantity: 87Team: Haas
Haas driver Oliver Bearman opted for a excessive race quantity: 87. There’s a household motive behind it, because the Brit defined: “I’ve raced with this quantity for a few years, as a result of my father was born on 8 Could and my brother on 7 August. So, 87 is my favorite quantity.”
Which race quantity can’t be utilized in Components 1?
Jules Bianchi, Marussia MR03
Photograph by: Sutton Pictures
In Components 1, race quantity 17 can now not be used. Jules Bianchi raced with that quantity on the time of his severe accident at Suzuka in 2014, and he later died from the accidents sustained in that crash. As a tribute, Components 1 retired that race quantity.
How lengthy does a driver retain the suitable to an F1 race quantity?
A driver who leaves the collection can lay declare to their previous race quantity for 2 years within the occasion of a comeback. Throughout that interval, the quantity can’t be utilized by one other driver. That’s how Alonso was in a position to return after two seasons away and select #14 once more, and why Albon is again with #23 and Hulkenberg with #27.
When a driver returns after an extended absence, they’ve to decide on a race quantity once more. That may be their previous quantity, offered it’s nonetheless accessible. If it isn’t, then they’ve to choose a totally new one.
These are the numbers that can’t be utilized in 2026.
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