F1 driver race car numbers 2023: Why does Max Verstappen use No.1 in Formula 1?
The Formula 1 World Championship introduced the concept of race numbers in 2014 to help fans identify drivers when out on track.
In previous years, starting numbers were assigned to drivers based on the final standings in the previous year’s World Championship.
Race numbers are now accepted as part of the structure of Formula 1 – but only the reigning world champion is allowed to change their number, with the No 1 on offer.
The Sporting News explains a bit about race numbers and how Max Verstappen got his number…
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What are Formula 1 driver race car numbers?
Race numbers are simply the numbers attached to each driver to distinguish them from the rest of the grid. You can find each driver’s driver number on the front of their car.
All drivers can choose any (available) number between 1 and 99.
Why does Max Verstappen have the number 1?
Before he was crowned world champion for the first time in 2021, Verstappen used number 33. He explained back in 2014 that his lucky number had always been 3 as a child, but Daniel Riccardo had blocked that at the time.
“I’ve been driving around with this number since I was a little boy,” Verstappen tweeted in December 2014. “So I thought it was nice to keep that in Formula 1 too! #33”.
Immediately following his dramatic victory at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to capture his first world title – just ahead of Lewis Hamilton – Verstappen announced he would accept the honor of driving with the number 1. And that will continue into the 2023 season after the Dutchman defended his title in 2022.
Becoming number 1 after winning the world title is not something every world champion has done. Sebastian Vettel used it back in 2014 but Hamilton opted to stick with his usual No.44.
“How often in your Formula 1 career do you get the chance to drive with starting number 1? You never know,” said Verstappen.
“I can still go back to number 33 if I’m no longer world champion. But as long as I’m world champion, I’ll be number 1 every year.”
Complete list of F1 racing numbers 2023
| driver | team | number |
| Max Verstappen | red bull | 1 |
| Logan Sargeant | Wilhelm | 2 |
| Lando Norris | McLaren | 4 |
| Pierre Gasli | alpine | 10 |
| Sergio Perez | red bull | 11 |
| Fernando Alonso | Aston-Martin | 14 |
| Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 16 |
| lance walk | Aston-Martin | 18 |
| Kevin Magussen | haas | 20 |
| Nyck de Vries | AlphaTauri | 21 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | 22 |
| Alex Albon | Wilhelm | 23 |
| Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo | 24 |
| Nico Hulkenberg | haas | 27 |
| Esteban Ocon | alpine | 31 |
| Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 44 |
| Carlo Sainz | Ferrari | 55 |
| George Russell | Mercedes | 63 |
| Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | 77 |
| Oskar Piastri | McLaren | 81 |