Since the start of the Formula One season, drivers have to choose an available starting number before entering their first Grand Prix. Driverscarry this number throughout their Formula One career. The FIA have also issued temporary numbers to drivers that are exceptions to this rule, for example if a driver withdraws from a race and a reserve driver takes their place then they receive a team-allocated number, this is also the case of free-practice-only drivers. Some examples of those numbers are 36, 40, 45, 46 and 47. A permanent number can only be reallocated if the driver associated with that number has not participated in a race for two entire consecutive seasons; for example, a driver picking his number for can not choose numbers which were last used in or, unless the number was issued temporarily by the FIA. For instance, Jenson Button's number 22 would have been available for re-allocation in 2019 after his departure from full-time racing in 2016, but an appearance in the 2017 Monaco Grand PrixreplacingFernando Alonso, who was participating in the 2017 Indianapolis 500 on that weekend instead, means his number may not be reassigned until 2020 at the earliest. The reigning Formula One World Drivers' Champion can elect to use their allocated permanent number or car number 1 during the year following their title. The number 1 was most recently used by Sebastian Vettel in 2014, with Lewis Hamilton keeping his permanent number 44 after his title wins in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and with Nico Rosberg retiring after his championship win in 2016. The number 17 was used by Jules Bianchi in 2014 before his crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. Following his death, the number was retired as a mark of respect.
Formula One driver numbers
The following lists all Formula One driver numbers which were claimed as career numbers since the season.
Timeline
This table shows the usage of each driver number over time since their introduction in 2014. indicates that a number was used in race as a temporary number, by a driver substituting for another. † indicates that a number was used in free practice only, not in any races.
