F1 Drivers Numbers: Racing Numbers for 2026 F1 Drivers and the Stories Behind Them

Each F1 driver is mandated to have a race number attached to them, which becomes the main point of identification for every driver behind the wheel. Usually, these numbers have personal stories and meaning hidden behind them. So, let’s explore each driver’s number on the 2026 grid and the stories behind them.

Each F1 Driver and Their Numbers

Lewis Hamilton – 44

Hamilton has shared that he has used number 44 right from the first go-kart his father, Anthony Hamilton, bought for him when he was just eight years old. The inspiration behind the number comes from the license plate “F44 HMA” on his father’s Vauxhall Cavalier. The 41-year-old has won six of his seven F1 world titles using the number 44. He won the 2008 F1 championship racing with number 22.

Max Verstappen – 3

Verstappen used the number 3 throughout his junior years in karting, but shifted to 33 when he made his F1 debut as 3 was already occupied. In 2026, he returned to the number 3 as it became available again following Daniel Ricciardo‘s retirement.

Lando Norris – 1

Norris uses the number 1 as he is the reigning F1 world champion and is the only driver allowed to use this number. Other than this, the Briton drives with the number 4, as he chose it as his third choice when making his debut in 2019.

Charles Leclerc – 16

Leclerc wanted to use the number 7 when he made his debut in 2018. But since it was unavailable, the Monegasque picked 16 as it was his birth date, and because the two numbers equal seven.

Kimi Antonelli – 12

Antonelli made his F1 debut with the number 12 as he had been using it since his F4 days and did not want to change it. The legendary Ayrton Senna, who also drove with the same number, was also part of the reason for the Italian driver’s choice.

George Russell – 63

63 is a ‘family number’ for Russell, as his brother Benjy also used the same number while driving in the Super 1 National Kart Championship previously. The Briton is simply continuing a family tradition.

Carlos Sainz – 55

Sainz chose the number 55 because his first choice, the number 5, was occupied by Sebastian Vettel when he made his F1 debut in 2015.

Fernando Alonso – 14

Alonso has driven with the number 14 from his first days in F1 as he believes it is lucky for him. The driver has explained that he won a karting world championship when he was 14 years old, on July 14 and while driving the number 14 car.

Sergio Perez – 11

Perez drives with the number 11 as a tribute to his childhood hero, Mexican soccer player Ivan Zamorano, who wore this number on his jersey.

Oscar Piastri – 81

Piastri originally used number 11 in his junior career, but changed the first digit to eight when his number clashed with a competitor. He has stuck with 81 since, as he says he does not know what inspired him to do so.

Pierre Gasly – 10

Gasly uses the number 10 as a tribute to fellow countryman, French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane, who wore the same number while playing for the national team.

Franco Colapinto – 43

Colapinto used number 43 since his days in Formula 4, and decided to stick with it once he got his chance in F1. He is the first-ever driver to use this number in the sport.

Alex Albon – 23

Albon took inspiration from MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi while picking his number. But rather than simply copying his idol, he halved the number Rossi used to race with (46).

Oliver Bearman – 87

Bearman also uses number 87 due to family reasons, as his father, David, used to race with the same number. The Briton explained that his father may have picked this number as he was born on May 8, while his brother was born on August 7.

Esteban Ocon – 31

Ocon won the 2007 Championnat de France title while karting using the number 31, and has chosen to stick with this number since then.

Nico Hulkenberg – 27

Hulkenberg was born on August 19, and he uses the number 27 as that is what one gets after adding 19 and eight (August being the eighth month of the year).

Valtteri Bottas – 77

Bottas raced with the number 7 in his time in the junior categories, but chose 77 as a natural alternate as his first choice was unavailable when he made his F1 debut in 2013.

Gabriel Bortoleto – 5

Bortoleto used number 5 during his time in junior categories, and even won the F2 championship in 2024 using this digit. The Brazilian chose to continue with it when making his debut in 2025.

Lance Stroll – 18

Stroll has shared that he picked number 18 due to superstition, as he won the F3 and F4 championships using this number and believes it is lucky for him.

Arvid Lindblad – 41

Lindblad is using number 41 due to the numbers resembling his initials (AL). This is another number that has never been used in F1 before.

Isack Hadjar – 6

Hadjar chose to use the number 6 while making his debut in 2025 as he had driven with it throughout his time in the junior racing categories.

Liam Lawson – 30

Lawson chose to use the number 30 as a tribute to his karting mentor, who he credits with teaching him about motor racing. The Kiwi driver has not shared the identity of this person, who used to race using this number.

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