2024 F1 driver race numbers: Who uses what number and why?

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18

In Formula 1, all drivers use a fixed race number. The championship introduced this concept in 2014 to increase the recognition of the drivers on the track for the fans. In previous years, the starting numbers were handed out based on the final ranking in the previous world championship standings.

Now only the world champion for the new season can choose to change his number: he gets the offer to replace the permanent number with the #1. All other drivers must stick to their chosen number.

Behind the choice of each number there’s a story for many drivers. It could be their lucky number or they have special memories of the number. This article lists all the numbers for the 2024 Formula 1 season and the explanations behind them.

List of F1 drivers’ numbers in 2024:

Zhou Guanyu

Nico Hulkenberg

Will Max Verstappen drive with race number 1 in 2024?

As reigning world champion, Max Verstappen elected to stick with #1 for the 2023 Formula 1 season and seems likely this will continue for 2024. Immediately after winning the championship in 2021 in the finale in Abu Dhabi, the Red Bull driver already announced that he will change his usual #33 – and has opted for the same after winning his third world championship.

“How often do you get the chance to drive with starting number 1 in your Formula 1 career? You never know,” Verstappen said.

“I can always go back to number 33 if I am no longer world champion. But as long as I am world champion, I will use number 1 every single year.”

In 2014 Sebastian Vettel was the last driver to use the #1. In subsequent years, the title went to Lewis Hamilton, who stuck to his #44, or to Nico Rosberg. The German hung up his helmet immediately after his world title and could therefore no driver could use the #1 in 2017.

Why did Max Verstappen pick #33?

In the years before his first world title Max Verstappen drove in Formula 1 with #33. The story behind this choice is quite simple: in his youth the Dutchman had the #3 as a lucky number. He wanted to use it in F1, but the number was already taken by Daniel Ricciardo, so Verstappen then chose to use #33, “for double happiness”.

“As a kid I raced around with this number, so I thought it would be fun to use #33 in Formula 1 as well,” he explained on social media, accompanying a photo of an electric toy car he drove around the family’s garden.

At other times in his career he has also driven with a #3, while in the European Formula 3 Championship, the Dutchman raced as #30 and on his debut for Toro Rosso he used #38.

F1 drivers’ numbers for 2024 and the story behind their choice

Logan Sargeant uses #2 and ahead of his rookie season in 2023, he said: “I used to run it in Formula Renault, and I had a pretty good season that year. Number three is my number, but that’s taken so I figured why not take a winning number from the past and run with it in F1?”

Which race numbers cannot be used in Formula 1?

Formula 1 drivers cannot pick to use the number 17. Jules Bianchi was using this number at the time of his serious accident at Suzuka in 2014. He later succumbed to injuries from that crash. As a tribute, the F1 organisation decided to withdraw this race number.

How long is a driver entitled to an F1 starting number?

A driver who leaves F1 can still use his old number for up to two years in case of a possible comeback. During this period the number cannot be used by another driver. For example, Fernando Alonso could return after his absence of two seasons and choose #14 again, which is why Alexander Albon could take #23 again and Nico Hulkenberg with #27. When a driver returns after a longer absence, he must choose a new starting number.

These starting numbers cannot be used in 2024:

Start number

Belonged to

Expires

5

Sebastian Vettel

End of 2024

6

Nicholas Latifi

End of 2024

17

Jules Bianchi

Permanent

47

Mick Schumacher

End of 2024