In the past, the number of drivers in Formula 1 was determined by the team's position in the championship and changed every year. In 2014, this rule was changed and pilots could now choose the numbers they wanted. This decision also provided significant benefits in terms of marketing.
After the decision, many pilots switched to the tricks they used during their karting years. Lewis Hamilton, for example, continued to use the number 44 even after he became champion. Some names made different choices because the numbers they wanted were taken. For example, Charles Leclerc normally wanted to use the number 7, but this number was used by Kimi Raikkonen. Leclerc decided to use the number 1 with a formula such as 6+7=16.
Funny thing is, the only reason Kimi Raikkonen used the number 7 was because he competed with the number 2013 in the 7 season and continued with that number because he didn't want to change it!
George Russell, who entered the sport in the 2019 season and decided to fight with the number 63, says that this number is his family number. Speaking in Mercedes' Q&A video, Russell said, "I chose the number 63 because my brother used this number when he was karting." said. “He was given this number when he first started the sport, and then it continued to be used as a family number. In short, the reason for my choice is my family.”
Drivers can choose any number they want, but there are two exceptions: first, number 1 is reserved for the champion, and second, a driver leaving the grid cannot use his number for three years. Since the rule change, number 1 has only been used by Max Verstappen.
This rule change gave Formula 1 more personality and allowed drivers to choose tricks that made more sense to them.
