Since 2014, Formula 1 has adopted a fixed race number system that allows drivers to select a personal number for their entire career. The aim of the change was to improve fan recognition and build stronger identities for the drivers. Before this rule came into effect, race numbers were assigned based on the previous year’s championship standings.
Under the current system, only the reigning world champion has the option to swap their permanent number for #1 for the upcoming season. All other drivers must continue using their chosen numbers throughout their F1 careers.
Current Driver Numbers for the 2024 Season
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#1 – Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
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#2 – Logan Sargeant (USA)
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#3 – Daniel Ricciardo (Australia)
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#4 – Lando Norris (United Kingdom)
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#10 – Pierre Gasly (France)
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#11 – Sergio Perez (Mexico)
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#14 – Fernando Alonso (Spain)
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#16 – Charles Leclerc (Monaco)
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#18 – Lance Stroll (Canada)
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#20 – Kevin Magnussen (Denmark)
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#22 – Yuki Tsunoda (Japan)
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#23 – Alex Albon (Thailand)
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#24 – Guanyu Zhou (China)
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#27 – Nico Hulkenberg (Germany)
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#31 – Esteban Ocon (France)
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#44 – Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom)
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#55 – Carlos Sainz (Spain)
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#63 – George Russell (United Kingdom)
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#77 – Valtteri Bottas (Finland)
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#81 – Oscar Piastri (Australia)
Why Verstappen Uses #1
As the defending world champion, Max Verstappen once again chose to race with #1 in 2024, continuing the tradition he began after winning his first title in 2021. After clinching the championship in Abu Dhabi, he decided to switch from his usual #33 to the prestigious #1.
“How often do you get to drive with number 1 in your Formula 1 career? You never know,” Verstappen stated. “I can always return to 33 when I’m no longer champion. But while I am, I’ll use number 1 every year.”
Notably, the last driver before Verstappen to use #1 was Sebastian Vettel in 2014. Since then, champions like Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg chose to stick with their personal numbers. Rosberg retired immediately after winning the title, meaning #1 went unused in 2017.
Why Verstappen Originally Chose #33
Before becoming world champion, Verstappen used #33 in Formula 1. The choice was inspired by his childhood—he considered #3 his lucky number, but that was already taken by Daniel Ricciardo. So, he opted for #33, which he called “double happiness.” He even shared an old photo of himself driving an electric toy car with that number in his family’s garden. During earlier phases of his racing career, he also used numbers like #3, #30 in European F3, and #38 on his Toro Rosso debut.
Personal Stories Behind Each Driver’s Number
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Logan Sargeant (#2)
Sargeant chose #2 after using it during a successful season in Formula Renault. His favorite number is actually #3, but since that was unavailable, he went with another number that had brought him good fortune. -
Daniel Ricciardo (#3)
Ricciardo picked #3 not only because he used it in karting, but also because he admired NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, who made the number iconic. “It was a no-brainer for me,” he said. -
Lando Norris (#4)
Norris uses #4 largely for branding reasons, fitting with the #L4ndo hashtag. Although he once considered using #46 in honor of MotoGP star Valentino Rossi, he didn’t want to appear as a copycat. -
Pierre Gasly (#10)
Gasly won the 2013 Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup with #10 and is a fan of football icon Zinedine Zidane, who also wore the number for France. -
Sergio Perez (#11)
Perez chose #11 as a tribute to Chilean footballer Ivan “Bam-Bam” Zamorano from Club America. He admired his style of play and even uses #11 in his personal email address. -
Fernando Alonso (#14)
Alonso’s number is rooted in a memorable day in his career—on July 14, 1999, at age 14, he won a karting world championship using #14. “From that moment I knew it was my number,” he said. -
Charles Leclerc (#16)
Leclerc’s birthdate is October 16, which inspired his choice. He originally wanted #7, then #10, but both were taken. He eventually chose #16, noting that 1 + 6 equals 7—his initial lucky number.
Each driver’s race number carries a personal story, adding a deeper level of identity and tradition to Formula 1 beyond the track. Whether drawn from childhood memories, personal heroes, or lucky milestones, these numbers help fans connect with the drivers on a more personal level.
