Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and rest of the F1 grid to race in 2022 with ‘these’ numbers

Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and rest of the F1 grid to race in 2022 with ‘these’ numbers

F1 drivers

F1 drivers didn’t really pay that much attention to the number that they were going to wear but that has changed in the recent past with the drivers being careful about the number they want to be associated with. The number is also the identity of the driver in a way and which also goes go on to be associated with the driver.

The numbers have been synonymous with drivers. FIA also started taking it seriously and came out with a rule in 2014. The rule stated that any number that a driver chooses at the start of his career will not be changed for the entirety of his career. The only exception to the rule being that if a driver becomes a world champion he has option to go for the Number 1 or sticking to his old number.

1Max VerstappenRed Bull
3Daniel RiccardoMcLaren
4Lando NorrisMcLaren
5Sebastian VettelAston Martin
6Nicholas LatifiWilliams
20Kevin MagnussenHaas
10Pierre GaslyAlphaTauri
11Sergio PerezRed Bull
14Fernando AlonsoAlpine
16Charles LeclercFerrari
18Lance StrollAston Martin
22Yuki TsunodaAlphaTauri
23Alex AlbonWilliams
24Guanyu ZhouAlfa Romeo
31Esteban OconAlpine
44Lewis HamiltonMercedes
47Mick SchumacherHaas
55Carlos SainzFerrari
63George RussellMercedes
77Valtteri BottasAlfa Romeo

Max Verstappen to change his Number 33 to number 1 after clinching his maiden title

Max Verstappen cruising down the tracks of Bahrain on Day Two of Testing in his RB18
Max Verstappen cruising down the tracks of Bahrain on Day Two of Testing in his RB18

The reigning world champion being Max Verstappen will have this option. Max Verstappen has decided to change his number 33 to number 1 after clinching his maiden title. This has been done only once by Sebastian Vettel when he ran the number 1 on his Red Bull in 2014 after clinching his fourth title.

FS Video

Since Nico Rosberg didn’t stick around to take the decision after winning his title and Lewis Hamilton opting to stick his number #44 for the entirety of his season, this shall be the second time this shall be done.

The wonder boys of McLaren and Mercedes, Lando Norris and George Russell, shall have number 4 and 63 running on their challengers respectively.

“Two numbers that disappear from the grid in 2022 are those of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi. Raikkonen’s number 7 leaves with him, as he has retired from the sport, while Giovinazzi’s number 99 also vanishes as he departs for Formula E.” As reported by racingnews365.

Both of these number shall be back on the market for the drivers to choose from in 2024. Max Verstappen will have that extra pressure driving around with that number for the first time. Let’s see how he deal with in the upcoming season opener this weekend.

Also Read: Could McLaren could potentially be the ‘dark horse’ in the upcoming F1 season after their best ever finish in the last season?