List of Formula One driver numbers

In Formula One, each car is numbered. Since the inaugural Formula One World Championship in 1950, several numbering systems have been used. This list covers the numbers used by drivers since the start of the 2014 Formula One season, when drivers have been allowed to choose a number that they would carry throughout their career.

History

1950–1973

From 1950 to 1973, driver numbers were allocated by the organisers of each event, with no consistent method deployed across events.[1]

1974–1995

It was not until 1974, following a short trial the previous year, when a consistent race-to-race numbering system was first implemented in Formula One. The reigning World Champion received number 1, their teammate took number 2, and numbers 3 and 4 and beyond were assigned to teams based on the 1973 Constructors' Championship results.[2] These assigned numbers were supposed to stay with their teams as long as they were part of Formula One or until they ran the reigning World Drivers' Champion, in which case they would swap numbers with the team previously running numbers 1 and 2. In the event of the drivers' champion not returning, no swap took place, and either number 0 (Damon Hill in 1993 and 1994) or number 1 (Ronnie Peterson in 1974 and John Watson in one 1985 race) was used by said team's lead driver.[2]

This system was dropped in 1996. Some traditional numbers of Formula One teams during this period are listed below.

Team Car number Years
Tyrrell 3 4 1974–1995
Williams 27 28 1978–1980
5 6 1982–1995
Brabham 7 8 1974–1977, 1985–1992
McLaren 7 8 1978–1984, 1993–1995
Lotus 5 6 1975–1978
11 12 1980–1987, 1989–1994
Ferrari 11 12 1974–1979
27 28 1981–1989, 1991–1995
Renault 15 16 1977–1985
Benetton 19 20 1986–1992
Scuderia Italia 21 22 1989–1992
Alfa Romeo 22 23 1980–1985
Minardi 23 24 1986–1994
Ligier 25 26 1976–1995
Arrows 17 18 1984–1988
29 30 1979–1983

1996–2013

After 1995, the numbers would change every year, as the previous season's Constructors' Championship standings would be used to determine the order from numbers 3 and 4 downwards, with the team of the World Drivers' Champion still getting numbers 1 and 2.[3][4] Throughout this period, number 13 was not used due to its superstitious connotation, with the FIA electing to skip from 11 and 12 to 14 and 15.[5][6]

2014–present

In 2014, it was decided to introduce the current system, where each driver gets to choose a permanent number.[7] Drivers were initially allowed to choose any number from 2 through 99; number 1 is reserved for the World Drivers' Champion.[8] The number 17 was retired in 2015 as a mark of respect to Jules Bianchi, who died that year from injuries sustained in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix while carrying the number.[9]

A permanent number can only be reallocated if the driver associated with that number has not participated in a single race over the past two consecutive seasons—a driver picking their number for 2026 can not choose numbers which were last used in 2024 or 2025, unless the number was issued temporarily by the FIA.[10] 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 instead), meant that his number could not be reassigned until 2020 at the earliest. Yuki Tsunoda subsequently picked that number (22) for 2021.

From 2026, drivers were allowed to request a change in permanent number.[11] Max Verstappen was the first to exploit this rule, switching from 33 to 3.[12]

Formula One driver numbers

Permanent numbers

The following lists all Formula One driver numbers which were claimed as permanent career numbers since 2014.

No. Driver 2026 team First
used 		Last
used
1 Reserved for champion[N 1] 2014 active
2 Stoffel Vandoorne[N 2] N/a 2017 2018
Logan Sargeant N/a 2023 2024
3 Daniel Ricciardo N/a 2014 2024
Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 2026 active
4 Max Chilton N/a 2014 2014
Lando Norris[N 1] McLaren 2019 2025
5 Sebastian Vettel[N 3] N/a 2015 2022
Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 2025 active
6 Nico Rosberg N/a 2014 2016
Nicholas Latifi N/a 2020 2022
Isack Hadjar Red Bull Racing 2025 active
7 Kimi Räikkönen N/a 2014 2021
Jack Doohan[N 4] N/a 2025 2025
8 Romain Grosjean N/a 2014 2020
9 Marcus Ericsson N/a 2014 2018
Nikita Mazepin[N 5] N/a 2021 2021
10 Kamui Kobayashi N/a 2014 2014
Pierre Gasly Alpine 2017 active
11 Sergio Pérez Cadillac 2014 active
12 Felipe Nasr N/a 2015 2016
Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 2025 active
13 Pastor Maldonado N/a 2014 2015
14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 2014 active
16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 2018 active
17 Jules Bianchi Permanently retired[N 6] 2014 2014
18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 2017 active
19 Felipe Massa N/a 2014 2017
20 Kevin Magnussen N/a 2014 2024
21 Esteban Gutiérrez N/a 2014 2016
Nyck de Vries[N 7] N/a 2023 2023
22 Jenson Button N/a 2014 2017
Yuki Tsunoda N/a 2021 2025
23 Alexander Albon Williams 2019 active
24 Zhou Guanyu N/a 2022 2024
25 Jean-Éric Vergne N/a 2014 2014
26 Daniil Kvyat N/a 2014 2020
27 Nico Hülkenberg Audi 2014 active
28 Will Stevens[N 8] N/a 2015 2015
Brendon Hartley[N 9] N/a 2017 2018
30 Jolyon Palmer N/a 2016 2017
Liam Lawson[N 10] Racing Bulls 2024 active
31 Esteban Ocon Haas 2016 active
33 Max Verstappen[N 11] N/a 2015 2021
35 Sergey Sirotkin N/a 2018 2018
41 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls 2026 active
43 Franco Colapinto Alpine 2024 active
44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 2014 active
47 Mick Schumacher N/a 2021 2022
53 Alexander Rossi[N 12] N/a 2015 2015
55 Carlos Sainz Jr. Williams 2015 active
63 George Russell Mercedes 2019 active
77 Valtteri Bottas Cadillac 2014 active
81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 2023 active
87 Oliver Bearman[N 13] Haas 2025 active
88 Rio Haryanto N/a 2016 2016
Robert Kubica N/a 2019 2021
89 Jack Aitken N/a 2020 2020
94 Pascal Wehrlein N/a 2016 2017
98 Roberto Merhi N/a 2015 2015
99 Adrian Sutil N/a 2014 2014
Antonio Giovinazzi[N 14] N/a 2019 2021
Sources:[15][16][17][18]

Temporary numbers

The FIA have also issued temporary numbers to drivers that are exceptions to the career numbers rule; for example, if a driver withdraws from a race and a reserve driver takes their place, they receive a team-allocated number. This is also the case for free-practice–only drivers. Examples include 39 (used by Brendon Hartley in one race), 40 (used by Paul di Resta in one race and Liam Lawson in five), 45 (used by André Lotterer and Nyck de Vries in one race each), 50 (used by Oliver Bearman in two races). The number 42 was entered twice for Alexander Rossi in 2014, but not for the main Grand Prix races: once for a practice session during the Belgian Grand Prix where he was supposed to replace Max Chilton before his team (Marussia) reinstated Chilton, and once for the Russian Grand Prix as substitute for Jules Bianchi, before his team ultimately chose not to run a second car alongside Chilton.

No. Driver Team Grand Prix Participated Source
36 Antonio Giovinazzi Sauber 2017 Australian Grand Prix
2017 Chinese Grand Prix 		[19][20]
38 Oliver Bearman Ferrari 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix [21]
39 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso 2017 United States Grand Prix [22]
40 Paul di Resta Williams 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix [23]
Liam Lawson AlphaTauri 2023 Dutch Grand Prix
2023 Italian Grand Prix
2023 Singapore Grand Prix
2023 Japanese Grand Prix
2023 Qatar Grand Prix 		[24]
45 André Lotterer Caterham 2014 Belgian Grand Prix [25]
Nyck de Vries Williams 2022 Italian Grand Prix [26]
46 Will Stevens Caterham 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix [27]
47 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix [28]
50 Oliver Bearman Haas 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
2024 São Paulo Grand Prix 		[29][30]
51 Pietro Fittipaldi Haas 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix
2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 		[31][32]
61 Jack Doohan Alpine 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix [33]

Number 1

The number 1 is reserved for the previous season's World Drivers' Champion, although it is not mandatory for the driver to run the number. The first driver to exercise the right to run the number 1 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 and 2017–2020, and Nico Rosberg retiring after his championship win in 2016. Despite Hamilton not using it full-time, he received permission to display the number 1 on the nose of his car during Friday practice at the 2018 and 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, his car was officially entered under his usual number 44, which remained visible on the engine cover.[34] Max Verstappen used number 1 from 2022 to 2025, following his titles in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.[35] Lando Norris will also use number 1 in 2026, following his title win in 2025.[36]

Driver Team First
used 		Last
used
Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing 2014 2014
Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 2022 2025
Lando Norris McLaren 2026 Active
Source:[37]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Lando Norris exercised his right to use number 1 as the reigning World Champion in 2026.
  2. ^ Vandoorne used number 47 while substituting for another driver in 2016.
  3. ^ Sebastian Vettel used number 1 when he was the reigning World Champion in 2014.
  4. ^ Doohan used number 61 while substituting for another driver in 2024.
  5. ^ 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.[13]
  6. ^ The number 17 was retired by the FIA following Bianchi's death in 2015.[14]
  7. ^ De Vries used number 45 while substituting for another driver in 2022.
  8. ^ Stevens used number 46 while substituting for another driver in 2014.
  9. ^ Hartley used number 39 while substituting for another driver in 2017.
  10. ^ Lawson used number 40 while substituting for another driver in 2023.
  11. ^ Max Verstappen used number 1 when he was the reigning World Champion from 2022 to 2025.
  12. ^ Rossi used number 42 while substituting for other drivers in 2014.
  13. ^ Oliver Bearman used numbers 38 and 50 while substituting for other drivers in 2024.
  14. ^ Giovinazzi used number 36 while substituting for another driver in 2017.

References

  1. ^ Killick, Ellie (8 March 2023). "The Evolution of F1 Driver Numbers: A Look Back Through History". It's All Sport To Me. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Logan, Nyo (25 April 2025). "F1 Drivers Numbers Guide: Retired, Banned & Famous Picks". Black Circles. Archived from the original on 15 September 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  3. ^ Phelan, Mark (14 July 2025). "F1 Driver Numbers: Banned, retired and current". Formula One History. Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  4. ^ Chain Bear (27 November 2018). Car and driver numbers in F1 - a short history. Retrieved 29 October 2025 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ Spencer, Patrick (10 November 2024). "The curse of the number 13 in Formula1". Marca. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. ^ Cooper, Adam (9 January 2023). "How F1 teams overcame superstition to embrace number 13". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  7. ^ Patrick, Seb (7 November 2017). "A look at the history of numbers in Formula 1". Squad Numbers. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  8. ^ Tremayne, Sam (10 December 2013). "Formula 1 drivers to get permanent numbers from 2014". Autosport. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  9. ^ Parkes, Ian (20 July 2015). "The FIA will retire Jules Bianchi's number 17 from Formula 1". Autosport. Archived from the original on 20 July 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  10. ^ "2022 Formula One Sporting Regulations" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 29 April 2022. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 April 2022.
  11. ^ Collantine, Keith (14 November 2025). "F1 Commission agrees changes to rules on car liveries and driver numbers for 2026". RaceFans. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  12. ^ Walsh, Fergal (17 December 2025). "Max Verstappen reveals new F1 driver number". RacingNews365. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  13. ^ Smith, Luke (5 February 2021). "Mazepin set to race under neutral flag after CAS ruling extends to F1". Motorsport. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  14. ^ "Number 17 to be retired in Bianchi's honour". Formula One World Championship Limited. 20 July 2015. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
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  19. ^ "2017 Australian Grand Prix – Official Race Classification". FIA. 26 March 2017. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  20. ^ "2017 Chinese Grand Prix – Entry List". FIA. 6 April 2017. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  21. ^ "2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Revised Entry List" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 8 March 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  22. ^ Collantine, Keith (26 October 2017). "Hartley to change number for second grand prix". RaceFans. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  23. ^ "Di Resta to stand in for unwell Massa in Hungary". Formula One. 29 July 2017. Archived from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
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  30. ^ "2024 São Paulo Grand Prix – Entry List" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 1 November 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  31. ^ "2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Entry List" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 10 December 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  32. ^ "2020 Sakhir Grand Prix – Entry List" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 3 December 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
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