Verstappen will use #1 for 2022 F1 title defence
Max Verstappen has confirmed he will race with #1 on his car for his Formula 1 world championship defence in 2022.
The Red Bull driver was crowned F1 world champion for the first time on Sunday after a last-lap overtake on title rival Lewis Hamilton to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
It means Verstappen now has the opportunity to race with #1 on his car next season, which is reserved for the reigning world champion under the permanent number system that was introduced in 2014.
Verstappen has always raced with #33 in F1, but said a few weeks ago that he would likely use #1 next year were he were to win the championship.
Now with his title confirmed, following Mercedes' protest into the late restart that allowed Verstappen to make his championship-winning pass being rejected by the FIA, the Dutchman revealed in a media call on Monday that he would be going ahead with plans to race with #1 in 2022.
“Yeah, I will run it,” Verstappen said.
“How many times can you do that? I don’t know, maybe it’s the only time I can in my life.
“I think it’s the best number out there. I will definitely put it on the car.”
It means #1 will return to the F1 grid for the first time since 2014 when Sebastian Vettel raced with it under the first year of the new numbering system.
Vettel was the last F1 driver to use #1 back in 2014
Photo by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Images
Hamilton has always opted against using #1, sticking with his traditional #44, while the only other world champion since the new system was introduced, Nico Rosberg, retired after winning his title.
Alfa Romeo F1 debutant Guanyu Zhou recently confirmed he would be using #24 for his F1 career, while the returning Alexander Albon can use his previous #23 as the number did not expire in a two-year period. He last raced at the end of 2020, and will join Williams for next season.
Formula 1 2022 - Driver Numbers
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
3. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
5. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)
6. Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
9. Nikita Mazepin (Haas)
10. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)
11. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
14. Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
16. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
18. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
22. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
23. Alexander Albon (Williams)
24. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo)
31. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
44. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
47. Mick Schumacher (Haas)
55. Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari)
63. George Russell (Mercedes)
77. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
Share Or Save This Story
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Max Verstappen’s one-lap gamble – and what Pirelli reveals about his Singapore sprint pole
FIA stewards deliver verdict in Max Verstappen yellow-flag investigation
How the Bahrain GP in Malaysia exposed Red Bull’s hidden resurgence
Marc Marquez labels sprint podium "inhumane" as pushback against MotoGP organisers continues
F1 Singapore GP Live commentary and updates: Sprint delayed after pre-start deluge
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
MotoGP Indonesian GP: Marc Marquez wins sprint to take points lead as Aprilias hit trouble
Why Red Bull's 'crazy' power unit success matters so much for F1
No denying it now – the one reason why F1’s ‘horrible’ start in Malaysia could be a good thing
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Three kings: F1's generational stars shone at Sepang
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments