The championship launched this mounted race quantity idea in 2014 to extend the popularity of the drivers on the observe for the followers. In earlier years, the beginning numbers have been handed out based mostly on the ultimate rating within the earlier world championship standings.
Now solely the world champion for the brand new season can select to vary his quantity: he will get the supply to exchange the everlasting quantity with the #1. All different drivers should stick with their chosen quantity.
Behind the selection of every quantity there is a story for a lot of drivers. It could possibly be their fortunate quantity or they’ve particular reminiscences of the quantity. This text lists all of the numbers for the 2024 Method 1 season and the reasons behind them.
Record of F1 drivers’ numbers in 2024
Will Max Verstappen drive with race number one in 2024?
As reigning world champion, Verstappen elected to stay with #1 for the 2024 Method 1 season. Instantly after successful the championship in 2021 within the finale in Abu Dhabi, the Crimson Bull driver already introduced that he’ll change his normal #33 – and has opted for a similar once more after successful his second title.
“How typically do you get the possibility to drive with beginning number one in your Method 1 profession? You by no means know,” Verstappen stated.
“I can all the time return to quantity 33 if I’m not world champion. However so long as I’m world champion, I’ll use number one each single yr.”
In 2014 Sebastian Vettel was the final driver to make use of the #1. In subsequent years, the title went to Lewis Hamilton, who caught to his #44, or to Nico Rosberg. The German hung up his helmet instantly after his world title and will subsequently no driver might use the #1 in 2017.
Why did Max Verstappen choose #33?
Within the years earlier than his first world title Verstappen drove in Method 1 with #33. The story behind this alternative is kind of easy: in his youth the Dutchman had the #3 as a fortunate quantity. He needed to make use of it in F1, however the quantity was already taken by Daniel Ricciardo, so Verstappen then selected to make use of #33, “for double happiness”.
“As a child I raced round with this quantity, so I assumed it will be enjoyable to make use of #33 in Method 1 as properly,” he defined on social media, accompanying a photograph of an electrical toy automotive he drove across the household’s backyard.
At different occasions in his profession he has additionally pushed with a #3, whereas within the European Method 3 Championship, the Dutchman raced as #30 and on his debut for Toro Rosso he used #38.
F1 drivers’ numbers: The story behind their alternative
Logan Sargeant makes use of #2 and forward of his rookie season in 2023, he stated: “I used to run it in Method Renault, and I had a fairly good season that yr. Quantity three is my quantity, however that’s taken so I figured why not take a successful quantity from the previous and run with it in F1?”
Daniel Ricciardo has used #3 since he joined Crimson Bull in 2014. The Australian used the quantity in his karting days but additionally revealed: “I used to be an enormous fan of Dale Earnhardt. I’m a fan of motorsports, however I’ve adopted NASCAR since I used to be very younger.” Earnhardt gained a number of championships of the NASCAR Winston Cup earlier than he was killed in a crash throughout the Daytona 500 in 2001. When requested to choose a quantity for Method 1, Ricciardo stated: “It was a no brainer for me to decide on the three.”
Lando Norris has given his McLaren the #4, explaining: “The story is that there isn’t any story. It matches properly with the hashtag #L4ndo, nevertheless it’s not a quantity I’ve utilized in all racing courses.” Norris is an enormous fan of MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi and thought of utilizing his #46, however stated he did not wish to be a ‘copycat’ so opted for the #4.
AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly has #10. The Frenchman gained the 2013 Method Renault 2.0 Eurocup with that quantity and can also be an enormous fan of footballer Zinedine Zidane, who performed with quantity 10 within the French crew.
Sergio Perez makes use of the quantity #11 on his automotive. The origin isn’t in motorsport, however in soccer. The Mexican is an enormous fan of Membership America, particularly of former participant Ivan Zamorano. “I appreciated how Bam-Bam performed, how he scored. I turned a fan of his and determined to race with that quantity. To this present day I’ve all the time used #11 in every single place, proper all the way down to my e mail deal with!” Perez stated.
Alpine F1 driver Fernando Alonso makes use of #14. On 14 July 1999, on the age of 14, he turned world champion in karting with #14. “From that second I knew #14 was my quantity,” he stated.
Charles Leclerc competes in Method 1 with the #16. The Ferrari driver was born on 16 October 1997. His choice was initially for the fortunate quantity seven, however that was already taken by Kimi Raikkonen. Subsequent, Leclerc needed #10, however that was already pushed by his good good friend Pierre Gasly. After some easy maths, he selected #16: “As a result of one plus six is seven,” he defined.
Lance Stroll has fitted his Aston Martin with #18. Within the early days of his profession he gained the Italian Method 4 Championship with this race quantity. Furthermore, shortly after his 18th birthday, he made his Method 1 debut with Williams. “A bit superstitious, however I like to carry on to little issues which are necessary to me. I do not wish to change them,” stated the Canadian.
Kevin Magnussen runs with #20 in F1 as it’s the quantity he gained the 2013 Method Renault 3.5 Collection title with, the yr earlier than he made his grand prix debut with McLaren.
Alex Albon sticks with #23, which he additionally used within the first part of his F1 profession. On this planet of sports activities, that is an iconic quantity. Basketball gamers LeBron James and Michael Jordan performed with this quantity, as did footballer David Beckham for a part of his profession. Like colleague Lando Norris, Albon is an enormous fan of Valentino Rossi. In his karting days, the British Thai raced along with his #46, however determined to go for half of that quantity in F1.
Zhou Guanyu has opted for #24. This quantity was final utilized in 2012 by Timo Glock. The Chinese language driver has chosen this quantity as a tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant, of whom he’s an enormous fan. Bryant performed the final years with the Lakers with quantity 24.
Nico Hulkenberg returns to #27 that he used within the first a part of his F1 profession. The quantity is already pretty well-known in F1 having been used to nice success by Gilles Villeneuve, in addition to sometimes by a handful of different stars together with Ayrton Senna and Jean Alesi. However, reportedly, the German’s purpose behind choosing #27 isn’t associated to that in any respect, as it’s the date and month of his birthday added collectively: 19 August.
Esteban Ocon makes use of the #31. The Alpine F1 driver took his first title in karting with that quantity in 2007. He nonetheless considers that among the finest years of his profession. He additionally drove his Method 1 take a look at debut in October 2014 within the service of Lotus with #31.
Yuki Tsunoda opted for #22 for his F1 debut at AlphaTauri. The Japanese driver drove #11 in his early karting days and needed to make use of that quantity in Method 1 as properly, however that begin quantity is already occupied by Sergio Perez. Tsunoda merely doubled the quantity and ended up with #22.
Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton races with #44. The Briton drove his first kart race with this quantity, however did not know what race quantity to decide on on the time, so he took the quantity from the licence plate of his father’s automotive: F44. With that quantity he laid the muse for his profitable profession and subsequently needed to make use of it in Method 1. Even within the years when he was entitled to race with #1 as world champion, the Briton caught to his #44.
Carlos Sainz has given his Ferrari #55. “The S of my first title is sort of a 5 and so is the S of my final title, in order that makes #55”. Furthermore, the #5 is his favorite quantity, however that was already taken by Sebastian Vettel. With this self-invented phrase recreation he reached #55.
George Russell makes use of #63. “My brother used to kart with the quantity 63, so this has turn out to be our household quantity ever since,” he stated. With some creativity, 63 can be learn as GR, that are the initials of the Mercedes driver. Others see it as GB, which stands for Nice Britain.
Valtteri Bottas races with #77. The Finn, like a number of different drivers, needed the fortunate quantity seven. Nonetheless, this quantity was already taken by his compatriot Kimi Raikkonen. Bottas subsequently selected #77, which he cleverly utilized to his private merchandise with the brand Bo77as.
Oscar Piastri runs the #81 in F1, having used the quantity sporadically in his junior profession. Beginning with #11 whereas karting in Australia, Piastri switched to #81 as a rival already had his earlier race quantity as he climbed the karting ladder. When he began competing in Europe he used quite a lot of completely different numbers however returned to #81 when competing in each British F4 and the Method Renault Northern European Cup.
Which race numbers can’t be utilized in Method 1?
Method 1 drivers can’t choose to make use of the quantity 17. Jules Bianchi was utilizing this quantity on the time of his severe accident at Suzuka in 2014. He later succumbed to accidents from that crash. As a tribute, the F1 organisation determined to withdraw this race quantity.
How lengthy is a driver entitled to an F1 beginning quantity?
A driver who leaves F1 can nonetheless use his previous quantity for as much as two years in case of a doable comeback.
Throughout this era the quantity can’t be utilized by one other driver. For instance, Alonso returned after his absence of two seasons to race with #14 once more, and it was the identical for Albon and Hulkenberg.
When a driver returns after an extended absence, he should select a brand new beginning quantity.
