In the earlier decades of Formula 1, numbers were rather meaningless — simply based on the standings of the previous year's Constructors' Championship or assigned at some point by the event organizers. But as drivers begin getting more notoriety and fandom, numbers became increasingly more important, and in 2014, F1 introduced a rule that would make it easier to keep track and follow your favorite driver.
The new rule requires drivers to pick a number at the beginning of their F1 career, that is expected to follow them throughout the rest of it, unless of course, they win the World Drivers' Championship, where they have the option to sport the number one on the front of their car. Drivers are able to choose from numbers 2 to 99, as long as it is not currently used by a driver already in F1, and it is not "frozen" — the FIA freezes a driver's number for two seasons following their departure from the series. After two seasons, the number is again available to drivers. Some that have been used at least twice since the rule was instated in 2014 are 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 21, 22, 28, 88, and 99.
There is one number not available for drivers to use, which is the number 17, having belonged to the late Jules Bianchi, which was retired in honor of the beloved driver.
As for the current 2025 F1 season drivers' number choices, how did they settle on their identifying numbers? Reasonings vary from rather sweet to surprising.
