F1 2025 : The special meaning behind drivers’ numbers

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 up to now by the occasion organizers. However they’ve gained large significance in F1 in latest seasons.

Since 2014, in an effort to assist followers acknowledge drivers extra simply, all drivers should select a quantity that may accompany them all through their profession. F1 solely permits a selection between numbers 2 and 99, with the number one reserved for the reigning World Champion, although its use will not be necessary. It is also doable 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 obtainable 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 price noting one quantity has been faraway from the record of choices: 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 reasonably candy to shocking.

Max Verstappen seized the chance of his first world title to take the number one, 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 selection 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 a giant fan of Valentino Rossi. The MotoGP legend wore quantity 46 — a quantity that Norris wished to soak up 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 number one. Used from 2015 to 2022 by Sebastian Vettel, accounting for the two-year freeze, it was lastly obtainable 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 also 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 at all times most well-liked it every time the selection was obtainable.

Though it wasn’t his first selection, Jack Doohan continues to be carrying a reasonably coveted quantity.

Picture by: Clive Mason/Getty Pictures

Initially wanting to make use of quantity 12, Jack Doohan finally 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 staff. However this quantity was additionally utilized by Gasly throughout his victorious season within the Method 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 at all times gone nicely” with this quantity in his profession.

For Fernando Alonso, quantity 14 was an apparent selection: 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 selection 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 good friend 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 Method 4 and the Toyota Racing Collection. “A bit of superstitious” — the Canadian caught with this quantity when he was recruited to F1, shortly after his 18th birthday.

Yuki Tsunoda wished to say quantity 11, because it was the quantity he began his racing profession with, but it surely was already assigned to Sergio Perez. The Japanese driver then doubled it to type quantity 22.

Similar to his good friend Norris, Alex Albon is a fan of the nice Valentino Rossi. However in contrast to 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 Pictures

If we exclude number one, quantity 27 is undoubtedly probably the most iconic and sought-after quantity in F1. Villeneuve, Senna, Prost, Alesi, Mansell, and Jones all wore it within the Eighties and Nineteen Nineties. However for Hulkenberg, this selection was merely motivated by the sum of the numbers associated to his birthdate, 19/08.

After driving with the quantity 40 throughout his momentary stint in 2023, Lawson returned to F1 with the intention of staying and due to this fact 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 sorted him raced with that quantity. That individual grew to become his “hero” by educating him the ropes of racing.

Esteban Ocon gained the French karting championship within the Minimes class with quantity 31 in 2007. With fond recollections 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 identify.

Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures

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 identify: 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 obtainable… That is how he began his profession with quantity 11, which later grew to become 81 when one in every of his rivals was already utilizing it.

Oliver Bearman selected quantity 87 because it represents the beginning dates of himself (Could 8) and his brother (August 7). It’s a quantity he has commonly used for the reason that starting of his profession.