Written by Jann Erin Castro, Edited by Madison Cooper
As the 2025 F1 season fast approaches, five driver numbers will be added to the roster. With familiar numbers returning to the grid, read more below about the sentimental reasons behind the new driver numbers.
There are many ways to distinguish a Formula One driver, be it through their helmet, the little details on their fireproof suit or even the colour of their T-Cam — but the most distinct identifier is their driver number.
A driver’s chosen number holds sentimental meaning to them that could date back to their karting years.
This identifier not only becomes part of their identity in the sport but also tells the deeper story of a driver.
Fans even learn to spot who’s who on track just by how a driver’s number is stylised. Take, for example, the neon yellow 44 of Lewis Hamilton or the elongated 55 of Carlos Sainz.
Some drivers even incorporate their number into their logo, like how George Russell combines his initials “GR” and his no. 63 or, there’s a hidden no. 4 in Lando Norris’ “LN” initials.
Picking a number is not as easy as picking out your favourite ice cream flavour or your outfit for the day.
Starting in 1996, drivers were assigned their numbers based on where their team finished in the Constructors’ Championship in the season prior — much like how Formula 2 and 3 drivers are assigned their numbers nowadays. It wasn’t until 2014 that the drivers were allowed to choose their own numbers.
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) states that drivers can choose a number from 2 to 99, which they must race throughout their career, provided that they refrain from using any of the following numbers:
No. 1, which is reserved for the reigning world champion
No. 17, which was retired in honour of the late Jules Bianchi, who raced the same number during his career
Through the years, many numbers have become iconic as they have been linked to equally iconic and historic drivers.
Eventually, when a driver leaves F1, their number can be taken up by a new driver after two seasons not in use.
As the 2025 season dawns with five new rookies on the grid, fans of the sport will also be seeing five new numbers on track — or, more specifically, the return of four iconic numbers.
No. 5 — Gabriel Bortoleto
Reigning F2 champion Bortoleto will be bringing the iconic no. 5 back to the grid in 2025.
The number that once belonged to four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will now be donned by a rookie with high hopes of making it big in F1.
Vettel’s use of the no. 5 after his championship reign had made the number iconically synonymous to him after racing it for eight seasons.
Bortoleto chose the no. 5 because of its ties to his rookie Formula 3 season where he raced the same number and won the championship.
Bortoleto becomes the first driver to inherit this number after the four-time champion, and the second driver to use it.
No. 6 — Isack Hadjar
Even numbers can’t keep on-track rivals apart because succeeding Bortoleto’s no. 5 is Isack Hadjar inheriting the no. 6.
Hadjar’s choice of number can be traced back to his karting years when he raced the same number.
Many fans were quick to comment on the irony of Hadjar, a known Hamilton admirer, using the same number as Lewis Hamilton’s former on-track rival Nico Rosberg.
Hadjar is the third driver to run the no. 6 after 2016 F1 Champ Rosberg and former Williams driver Nicholas Latifi.
No. 7 — Jack Doohan
The no. 7 is an iconic number across numerous sports, having represented known athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann, David Beckham and Indian world-cup winning captain MS Dhoni.
In Formula 1, the no. 7 was also synonymous with iconic world champions Michael Schumacher and Kimi Räikkönen.
While Schumacher only raced the number for two seasons with Mercedes, it became easily linked to him for the same number of world championship titles he had won.
Similar to Vettel, Räikkönen raced the no. 7 for eight seasons before his retirement, making it an iconic link to him.
In 2025, the no. 7 will make a comeback in the F1 grid, with Jack Doohan racing his first full F1 season.
Although Doohan initially opted to race the no. 12 – which was taken first by fellow rookie Kimi Antonelli – he ultimately decided on the no. 7, having raced the same number back in 2019 and 2020.
Coincidentally, at the time Doohan raced with the no. 7 in his junior career, he was competing in the Euroformula Open with Double R Racing, which Räikkönen himself co-founded.
No. 12 — Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Another well-known number making a full-time return to F1 is the no. 12 which will be donned in the Mercedes of prodigy rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
During his stint as a reserve and test driver for Mercedes, Antonelli had the brief chance to use the no. 12 during his free practice entries in Italy and Mexico, as well as during the post-season test.
Like most of the rookies, Antonelli also raced the no. 12 in his junior career – specifically when he competed and won the championship in the Italian Formula 4, ADAC Formula 4 and Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA).
Antonelli also chose his number to honour his racing hero, Ayrton Senna.
Senna raced the no. 12 from 1985 to 1988 across his teams, Lotus and McLaren. It was with his number that he won his very first world championship in 1988.
The no. 12 was last used in F1 by Brazilian Sauber driver Felipe Nasr in 2016.
No. 30 — Liam Lawson
In his first full F1 season, Red Bull rookie Liam Lawson will be racing the same no. 30, which he used in his 2024 six-race stint with Visa Cash App RB.
Prior to his use of the no. 30, Lawson ran the no. 40 when filling in for Daniel Ricciardo back in 2023 due to an injury.
The Kiwi driver shared that he’s been using the no. 30 since he was eight years old and throughout his junior racing career.
He was inspired to use this number after his karting mentor and hero ran the same number in karting.
Lawson precedes now-F1 broadcaster and journalist Jolyon Palmer in using the no. 30 on track.
No. 87 — Oliver Bearman
Rising star Oliver Bearman will bring a new number to the grid as he competes in his first full F1 season with the no. 87.
After having entered a couple of races across the 2024 season to fulfil his role as a reserve driver, many suspected that Bearman would carry on his use of either the no. 38, which he used with Ferrari or the no. 50, which he used with Haas.
Ultimately, the young Brit will be running a unique new number that holds a deep connection to his family.
Bearman’s father, David, was the first member of the family to run the no. 87, way back in his racing career.
The no. 87 represented the birthdates of his two sons – Oliver, born on the 8th of May, and Thomas, born on the 7th of August.
The young Bearman brothers also ran both numbers in their junior racing careers.
Oliver raced the no. 8 with PREMA Racing in his rookie F2 season, and Thomas is currently racing the no. 7 with Hitech Grand Prix in the Formula Winter Series.
Although [Oliver] Bearman will be the first driver in F1 to use the no. 87, this will not be his first time racing said number as he’s also competed, even won championships, with it in his junior career.
Driver numbers tell stories of family, inspiration, victory and legacy that are continuously re-told and shared by old and new fans.
Although new drivers are free to choose available numbers, they still hold respect for the drivers who owned the numbers before them by asking for their blessing.
While some may argue that certain numbers should be retired to honour the legacy of world champions, others argue that the same numbers will live on as part of the sport’s modern history.
In the words of the influential world champion Sebastian Vettel, whose number will also be inherited this season:
“The marks on track will stay until time and rain will wash them away… The next corner is in good hands as a new generation has already turned in.”
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