Verstappen confirms he will wear number 1 in 2022

Max Verstappen has officially confirmed that he will wear number 1 next season, after being crowned World Champion at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He had already expressed this intention a few weeks ago, and formalized his choice on Monday.

Since the introduction of permanent numbers in Formula 1, during the 2014 season, the reigning World Champion is free to use the number 1 assigned to him or to keep his usual number. Thus, the number 1 has not been seen in the race since Sebastian vettel took it to Red Bull in 2014. Lewis hamilton has always refused to choose it, preferring to keep the 44, while Nico Rosberg did not defend his title acquired in 2016 since he retired immediately.

Arrived in F1 in 2015, Max Verstappen has always raced with the 33, at Toro Rosso then at Red Bull, but will therefore seize the opportunity to sport the number 1 next season. “Yes, I will use it”, he confirmed on Monday. “How many times can you do that? I don’t know, this might be the only time I can do this in my life. I think it’s the best number I can do. I’ll put it on the car. . “

The number 33 will nevertheless remain the property of Max Verstappen, who will be able to recover it in 2023 if he ever fails to retain his world title. If a driver is absent from the championship, his number is also reserved and can only be assigned to another after two full years of non-use.

In 2022, the grid will see the return of the number 23 ofAlexander Albon. The only rookie in F1 next season at Alfa Romeo, Guanyu Zhou chose the number 24, which has never been used since the introduction of permanent numbers. Timo glock was the last driver to wear this number, from 2010 to 2012 at Virgin / Marussia, when the numbers were assigned by the FIA.

The FIA ​​also published the official (and very administrative) 2022 entry list a few days ago: