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Did Sebastian Vettel use the number 1?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 20, 2026

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.

Who has raced with the number 1 in F1?

Verstappen will therefore become the first driver to consistently use the #1 in F1 since Red Bull alumnus Sebastian Vettel did so in 2014.

Why is number 1 not used in F1?

Currently, drivers are allowed to pick their own number for their career from 0, 2 through 99. Only the World Champion is allowed to use number 1. This number cannot be reallocated unless the driver has not driven in the sport for two seasons.

Has Hamilton ever used the number 1?

Aside from the 2009 season following his first title year in 2008, and the Free Practice 1 sessions of 2018 and 2019, Hamilton has never used the no1, sticking with no 44.

Will Verstappen use number 1?

Max Verstappen is set to use number 1 on his Red Bull in 2022, having earned the right to make the switch after winning his maiden F1 World Championship – something Lewis Hamilton has passed up on several occasions.

42 related questions found

What was Michael Schumacher's car number?

Number '7' is closely associated with Michael Schumacher for obvious reasons as it represents the F1 legend's world title tally, an outstanding track record that Mick hopes to equal on day.

How do F1 drivers pee?

They simply pee inside their suits. No fancy-schmancy tubes or systems. Nothing. They pretty much wet themselves.

Why is number 13 not used in F1?

The superstition surrounding the number 13 is thought to date back to pre-war racing and has generally been avoided in F1 competition. The only driver to have entered a world championship Grand Prix with 13 on his car was Mexican racer Moises Solana, whose BRM carried the number in his home race in 1963.

Why is Hamilton No 44?

And he admits the decision is down to the fact the number 44 is his family's lucky number. “When I started racing when I was eight, the number plate on my dad's car – he had this red Cavalier – was F44,” Hamilton told PETRONAS Motorsports. “So he used 44 - it was his idea. And then it became the family lucky number.”

What F1 numbers are retired?

Number 17 has a unique, tragic status in Formula 1. It's the only number ever to have been 'retired', in tribute to Jules Bianchi after his death in July 2015 following his horrific accident at Suzuka the previous October.

Why did Schumacher pick 47?

It is the number he always chose; not least because it is the number of his World Championship titles. The 4 and the 7 together make a unit of or a connection between the two of us. And the fact that our family's birthdays added together make 47 feels to me like a confirmation of that choice.

Who is number 33 F1?

Why did Max Verstappen pick #33? In the years before his first world title Max Verstappen drove in Formula 1 with #3. The story behind this choice is quite simple: in his youth the Dutchman had the #3 as a lucky number.

Why did Sebastian Vettel change his number?

5 before joining Ferrari to pay tribute to his hero, Michael Schumacher after his accident, but he had chosen this number before it occurred. “I chose it because I was so successful in karts in 2001 with the number 5,” said Vettel.

Who is number 23 in F1?

These are the numbers of Romain Grosjean (8), Kevin Magnussen (20), Alexander Albon (23) and Daniil Kvyat (26), all of whom lost their seats in F1. These numbers are reserved for this drivers until 2023. Check below for the complete overview of the F1 driver start numbers for 2021.

Do F1 drivers get free cars?

With the amount of money they're paid, F1 drivers–well, certainly, the successful ones–can get their hands on pretty much any road car they like, no matter how limited it may be. Some manufacturers even offer them cars for free as part of sponsorship deals. It's definitely alright for some.

Do F1 drivers listen to music?

F1 drivers do not listen to music during a race. While it is not banned in the official rules, it is not done by any driver. In a sport as intense as F1, music would only distract the drivers and prevent them from receiving important information from their team.

Why does Formula 1 have two drivers?

F1 teams have 2 drivers because the rules dictate that each team must field two drivers. They are not allowed to have more than two drivers in a race at a time. F1 teams also have 2 drivers in order to combine the points they score to battle the other teams for the constructors' championship.

Do F1 drivers poop?

The simple answer is yes they do. F1 drivers can relieve themselves during races on the off chance that they need to but many have strongly claimed that they wait until they return to the paddock.

Do F1 drivers poop in their suits?

Finally, the driver is not eating anything while driving but only drinking liquids. Therefore, once they have used the toilet before the race, they shouldn't have to do it again during the event. If a driver had to, they would apply the same concept and poo in their suit or adult diaper.

Why are there no females in F1?

The main reason why there aren't any female drivers in F1 is money. For any young junior driver wanting to get onto the single-seater motorsport ladder, raising – and continuing to – a budget through sponsors is incredibly hard. Before a team will let you anywhere near one of its machines, it wants a budget from you.

Is Michael Schumacher The Stig?

In series 13 episode 1, the show jokingly unmasked the Stig as seven-time world champion F1 driver Michael Schumacher. In the hiatus following series 15, racing driver Ben Collins was revealed to be the Stig in a court battle over Collins' impending autobiography, titled The Man in the White Suit.

Will Schumacher ever recover?

After an accident of this severity, recovery can take years, depending on the injury, age and fitness of the patient. Although Schumacher is still recovering, he is being treated in the hope of one day returning to a normal life.

Is Schumacher conscious?

Schumacher was placed in a medically induced coma and his doctors said his condition was stable. By June the following year, it was reported that Schumacher had regained consciousness and he was transferred to a hospital for rehab.

Why Hamilton did not use number 1?

"I don't consider myself the champion"

Speaking to accredited media, including RacingNews365.com, Hamilton said: "I don't consider myself the champion that year; I consider myself the one that's fighting for a championship."