As is the case with all things Formula One, the driver numbers displayed on their cars are now part of the team and the drivers’ personal marketing tool kit, but it wasn’t always that way.
From 1950 until the 1970’s, the numbers each driver would sport on their car during a race were issued at each event by the race promotor. It was important for the spectator’s to be able to identify the driver given there may be a number of similar customer cars in the field sporting bland and generic liveries so the numbers were the only way to identify who was in each car.
From 1973-1975 there was an attempt to fix the numbers with the organisers promising to try and give each team similar numbers from week to week. Then in 1975 the classic system of fixed numbering for each driver for the season was introduced, with the champion driver allocated #1 and their team mate #2.
F1 history of driver number allocations
However, if the champion retired and didn’t compete the following season then the team which employed the winning driver the previous season would use #0 and #2. Damon Hill ran #0 in 1993 and 1994 as did Alain Prost’s team mate Nigel Mansell in 1993.
The F1 teams wold retain the numbers for many years. McLaren famously carried the numbers #7 and #8 whilst Ferrari utilised #27 and #28 in honour of Gilles Villeneuve and Michele Alboreto. This created an emotional association between teams and drivers.
From 1996-2013 the teams were allocated numbers on the basis of where they finished in the previous seasons championship. So if Ferrari were third, their drivers would sport the numbers #5 and #6.
The final system which followed that is broadly the one we have today and the only number between 1-99 not available was #1 reserved for the champion. Driver now selected a number for the lifetime of their career, allowing continuous and consistent marketing strategy for replica team wear and other associated products.
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Of course Lewis Hamilton is known for #44 which has become a brand in itself. His project to drive inclusivity in F1 is known as Mission #44. Under the current system, Hamilton elected not to use the #1 following his title winning years, instead he remained #44 during his entire Mercedes career. Verstappen who is #33 decided against this, preferring to market himself as the world champion using the #1.
The number 17 has been permanently retired because it was Jules Bianchi’s number and as a mark of respect for the last F1 driver to lose his life racing, #17 will forever be associated with the French rising star.
However at the recent meeting of there F1 commission it was decided; “Changes to the regulation on permanent competition numbers for drivers, introduced for the 2014 season, were discussed,” the FIA revealed. “It was agreed that a proposal for drivers to change their numbers during their career would be permitted.”
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The request came from Reed Bull Racing and following the media day in Las Vegas it has become clear why this request was made. Max Verstappen was asked by Dutch media which number he would sport next season should he fail to retain his F1 crown.
“That’s a very good question!” he replied. “I will look at it over the winter, but my favourite number is #3. We just need to see whether that is actually possible.” This number was most recently sported by Verstappen’s old team mate, Daniel Ricciardo who last raced at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.
However, the current regulations mean that a driver number only becomes available only two years after their last F1 race. Of course for Riccardo’s number that would mean it is only available in the autumn of 2026. However, given the Aussie has announced he is retired from the sport, it may well be the FIA could give Verstappen special dispensation.
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Verstappen continued to muse over other numbers which he may adopt although his favourite may have some hidden some sexual connotations which his father Jos advised against.
“I actually wanted #69, but my dad said ‘that’s not a good idea’,” Verstappen added. “But that number always looks the same, no matter how you look at the car!
“#69 would be very good for the photos and marketing, and for the caps as well. It doesn’t matter how you wear them, it always stays #69. In that respect it would be a good marketing tool.
“I also like #27, but Nico already has that. I think #2 and #7 look really nice together in terms of shape. So #3 is my favourite number, but there are several numbers I find cool.”
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Other famous driver numbers
Which number Max will choose is anyone’s guess, although there’s a slim chance he could retain the #1. In F1 history their are some iconic numbers which are associated with certain drivers and even the reasons many of the current drivers selected their numbers have a back story.
Fernando Alonso has the number #14. The reason is because he won his first karting championship when he was 14 and also because 1+4=5 his lucky number.
Sebastian Vettel selected the number 5 back in 2014 because that was his number when he was a karter. Stirling Moss the greatest driver never to wi the championship is associated with the number 7 and today much of the Moss products you can buy sport this number.
Stirling Moss iconic #7
The reason behind this was because when he won his first ever Grand Prix at Silverstone, beating the great Fangio in 1955, he had been allocated this number.
As to Daniel Ricciardo’s #3 which Verstappen now covets, the Aussie chose this number to celebrate one of his heroes who sported the #3 in NASCAR racing, Dale Earnhardt who graced the sport from 1975-2001.
Yet its fascinating to see the power the world champion Max Verstappen has in Formula One, as its hard to see if any other driver, maybe with the exception of Lewis Hamilton & Fernando Alonso, would be able to hold sway in such a fashion with F1’s regulatory body.
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A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
In addition to editorial duties, Andrew is particularly interested in how media narratives shape fan perception of Formula 1, and how reporting can balance speed with accuracy in an increasingly digital news environment.
