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. [ 1 ]

From 1950 to 1973, driver numbers were allocated by the organisers of each event, with no consistent method deployed across events. [ 2 ] In 1974 a consistent race-to-race numbering system was first implemented in Formula One, based on the 1973 Constructors' Championship results. These assigned numbers were supposed to stay with their teams as long as they were part of Formula 1 or until they ran the reigning World Drivers' Champion , in which case they would swap numbers with the team previousl...

Number 1

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; [ 5 ] for example, a driver picking their number for 2025 can not choose numbers which were last used in 2023 or 2024, 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 Mo...

Table 1

No.	Driver	2025 team	First used	Last used
1	Reserved for champion[N 1]	Reserved for champion[N 1]	2014	active
2	Stoffel Vandoorne[N 2]	—	2017	2018
2	Logan Sargeant	—	2023	2024
3	Daniel Ricciardo	—	2014	2024
4	Max Chilton	—	2014	2014
4	Lando Norris	McLaren	2019	active
5	Sebastian Vettel[N 3]	—	2015	2022
5	Gabriel Bortoleto	Kick Sauber	2025	active
6	Nico Rosberg	—	2014	2016
6	Nicholas Latifi	—	2020	2022

Table 2

No.	Driver	Team	Grand Prix Participated	Source
36	Antonio Giovinazzi	Sauber	2017 Australian Grand Prix 2017 Chinese Grand Prix	[13][14]
38	Oliver Bearman	Ferrari	2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix	[15]
39	Brendon Hartley	Toro Rosso	2017 United States Grand Prix	[16]
40	Paul di Resta	Williams	2017 Hungarian Grand Prix	[17]
40	Liam Lawson	AlphaTauri	2023 Dutch Grand Prix 2023 Italian Grand Prix 2023 Singapore Grand Prix 2023 Japanese Grand Prix 2023 Qatar Grand Prix	[18]
45	André Lotterer	Caterham	2014 Belgian Grand Prix	[19]
45	Nyck de Vries	Williams	2022 Italian Grand Prix	[20]
46	Will Stevens	Caterham	2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix	[21]
47	Stoffel Vandoorne	McLaren	2016 Bahrain Grand Prix	[22]
50	Oliver Bearman	Haas	2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix	[23]

Table 3

Driver	Team	First used	Last used
Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull Racing	2014	2014
Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	2022	active
Source:[29]	Source:[29]	Source:[29]	Source:[29]

F1ABY Commentary

Consider this: why does the seemingly arbitrary assignment of numbers persist, even as the very definition of ‘team’ shifts under the relentless pressure of ownership and sponsorship? The 1974 system, ostensibly rooted in constructors’ standings, reveals a fundamental tension – a desire for order amidst a sport perpetually flirting with chaos. Observe the subtle gradient of influence; a team’s number isn't merely an identifier, but a tether to a specific performance history, a legacy that demands respect, or perhaps, a strategic burden. The allocation process, however, inherently favors dominant forces, doesn’t it? A team clinging to ‘11’ after a season of struggle carries a weight far heavier than one that’s consistently battling for podiums. Let’s analyze the data – the correlation between number stability and a team’s competitive trajectory…it’s a fascinating, and frequently overlooked, element of the strategic landscape.

The very chassis beneath these machines dictates the flow of power, a brutal calculus of stress and response that determines lap times. Let’s examine how the differential geometry of the suspension, coupled with the engine’s torque curve, sculpts the car’s trajectory—a far more intricate dance than simple speed. Observe the subtle shifts in weight distribution, a direct consequence of aerodynamic load and tire deformation, fundamentally altering the vehicle’s handling characteristics.

F1ABY Trivia

Let’s examine the evolving system. Prior to 1974, assigning a number was a chaotic affair; Monaco, for example, might award #8 while Silverstone stuck with #11. The shift to race-based numbering, stemming from 1973’s championship standings, represents a crucial step in establishing a standardized, trackable identity for each team. Consider the implications – a consistent numerical reference allowed for far more precise telemetry analysis, a necessity given the burgeoning complexity of the cars.

Let’s examine the distribution of first-place finishes across the 1976 European Grand Prix season. Astonishingly, seven of the ten drivers who started the race secured a position within the top three. This suggests a considerable degree of tactical racing and, perhaps, a surprisingly consistent level of track grip that day – a variable frequently underestimated by contemporary analysis. It’s a statistic demanding further scrutiny, doesn’t it?

F1ABY Tales

The rear wing, a chaotic dance of aero surfaces, is generating a frankly astonishing amount of downforce – almost 80kg at Monaco. Observe the slotting, meticulously calibrated to manipulate airflow; a slight shift here, a fractional adjustment to the chord length, and the entire balance of the car undergoes a seismic alteration. The simulation data predicted this, of course, but the actual deployment, the raw power of the turbulence generated, is exceeding expectations. It’s a brutal testament to the relentless refinement of the CFD models, a tangible demonstration of the computational power driving these machines. The team’s focus now, undoubtedly, is on managing that aggressive aero, preventing oversteer, and maintaining grip through the tight corners.

The rain hammered against the grandstands, mirroring the frantic calculations swirling in Ken Tyrrell’s mind. 1970. A damp, grey Monaco, and the ghost of Jim Clark still clung to everything. He adjusted his spectacles, a frown etching itself deeper into his weathered face. The allocation of numbers, a bureaucratic mess from ’50 to ’73, seemed a paltry concern now. The system, established in '74, was a flawed attempt at order—a race-to-race sequence dictated by the previous season’s constructors’ championship. A curious arrangement, to be sure, but one that, he suspected, would continue to present a significant headache for the sport’s governing bodies.