List of Formula One driver numbers
Since the start of the 2014 Formula One season, drivers have to choose an available starting number before entering their first Grand Prix.[1] Drivers carry this number throughout their Formula One career.
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The FIA have also issued temporary numbers to drivers that are exceptions to this rule, for example if a driver withdraws from a race and a reserve driver takes their place then they receive a team-allocated number, this is also the case of free-practice-only drivers. Some examples of those numbers are 36 (used by Antonio Giovinazzi in two races), 40 (used by Paul di Resta in one race), 45 (used by André Lotterer in one race), 46 (used by Will Stevens in one race), 47 (used by Stoffel Vandoorne in one race) and 51 (used by Pietro Fittipaldi in two races). A permanent number can only be reallocated if the driver associated with that number has not participated in a race for two entire consecutive seasons;[2] for example, a driver picking their number for 2022 can not choose numbers which were last used in 2020 or 2021, unless the number was issued temporarily by the FIA. For instance, Jenson Button's number 22 would have been available for re-allocation in 2019 after his departure from full-time racing in 2016, but an appearance in the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix replacing Fernando Alonso (who was participating in the 2017 Indianapolis 500 on that weekend instead), meant that his number could not be reassigned until 2020 at the earliest. Yuki Tsunoda subsequently picked that number (22) for the 2021 Formula One World Championship.
The reigning Formula One World Drivers' Champion can elect to use their allocated permanent number or car number 1 during the year following their title. The first driver to exercise that right under the new regulations was Sebastian Vettel in 2014. The number then went unused for seven seasons, with Lewis Hamilton keeping his permanent number 44 after his title wins in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, and Nico Rosberg retiring after his championship win in 2016. Max Verstappen is using number 1 in 2022 after winning his first world title in 2021.[3]
The number 17 was used by Jules Bianchi in 2014 before his crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. Following his death, the number was retired as a mark of respect.[4]
Formula One driver numbers
The following lists all Formula One driver numbers which were claimed as career numbers since the 2014 season.
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Timeline
This table shows the usage of each driver number over time since their introduction in 2014.
* indicates that a number was used in race as a temporary number, by a driver substituting for another.
† indicates that a number was used in free practice only, not in any races.
Notes
- The 2021 World Drivers' Champion has elected to use number 1 for 2022.
- Vandoorne used number 47 while substituting for another driver in 2016.
- Vettel used number 1 when he was reigning World Champion in 2014.
- Nikita Mazepin is Russian, but he competed as a neutral competitor using the designation RAF (Russian Automobile Federation), as the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a ban on Russia competing at World Championships. The ban was implemented by the World Anti-Doping Agency in response to state-sponsored doping program of Russian athletes.[5]
- The number 17 was retired by the FIA following Bianchi's death in 2015.[6]
- Stevens used number 46 while substituting for another driver in 2014.
- Hartley used number 39 while substituting for another driver in 2017.
- Max Verstappen exercised his right to use number 1 as the reigning world champion in 2022.
- Rossi used number 42 while substituting for other drivers in 2014.
- Giovinazzi used number 36 while substituting for another driver in 2017.
References
- Sam Tremayne. "Formula 1 drivers to get permanent numbers from 2014". Autosport.com. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- https://www.fia.com/file/61679/download/20079?token=EmWuXJe1
- "Champion Verstappen to run No.1 on Red Bull in 2022 as he reveals congratulations from Wolff and Hamilton". Formula1.com. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- Parkes, Ian (20 July 2015). "The FIA will retire Jules Bianchi's number 17 from Formula 1". Autosport. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
- Luke Smith (5 February 2021). "Mazepin set to race under neutral flag after CAS ruling extends to F1". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- "Number 17 to be retired in Bianchi's honour". Formula One World Championship Limited. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
- "F1 2014: The reasons behind the numbers". GP Update. GP Update. 8 February 2014. Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- Tremayne, Sam (9 December 2013). "Formula 1 drivers to get permanent numbers from 2014". Motorsport. Motorsport.com. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- "2015 F1 driver numbers". Crash.net. Crash.net. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- "2021 and 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship Entry Lists". fia.com. FIA.com. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- "Race Results". Formula1. Retrieved 22 April 2022.