For some athletes, the number they wear on their jersey has a special meaning. It could be the number they wore to exercise as a child or a number honoring a loved one. It’s no different with racing drivers. Their car numbers are often used to identify the drivers during the race. For example, Jeff Gordon’s NASCAR ride was often referred to as “the 24”. Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton is an example of a driver who has chosen a car number with a special meaning. That’s why he drives No. 44.
Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 career
Lewis Hamilton from Formula 1 in his car No. 44 | Photo Xavi Bonilla / DPPI
Formula1.com gives us an idea of how impressive Hamilton’s career in Formula 1 has been. He has participated in 269 races and was on the podium in 168 of them. The 36-year-old has a total of 97 race victories in his résumé. Hamilton’s first win came in 2007 at the Canadian Grand Prix in his first year on the track. He has won seven world championships and held pole position more than any other driver in F1 history.
The native Brit, who drives for the Mercedes F1 team, is being talked about as the greatest driver in F1 history. And he’s not done yet as Hamilton tries to defend the championship he won in the 2020 season shortened by the pandemic. He is ready to beat both 100 wins and pole at some point this season.
Why Lewis Hamilton chose the # 44 for his car
In a conversation with Formula 1, Hamilton revealed why he drives car number 44, and it goes back to his childhood. When Hamilton was a kid, his father bought a really old go-kart that was advertised in the back of the paper. It had five or six previous owners, and his father converted the kart. When the young Hamilton started his first race, the kart had to have a number. He and his father didn’t know which number to use. They eventually picked # 44 after noticing that his father’s car had a license plate numbered 44.
Hamilton drove the number 44 for years when he drove go-karts. However, when he got to Formula 1, he had to go with the number the team had assigned him. In the course of his career, however, he was allowed to choose which starting number to start with. He says he “went back to where it all began” with the “faithful” number that his family knows: No. 44.
How other Formula 1 drivers chose their numbers
According to Formula 1 YouTube, other F1 drivers also shared their stories of how they chose their racing car numbers.
- Sebastian Vettel has the number 5 because that is the number of the go-kart he drove in 2001 when he had a successful season; he sticks to that number and hopes to repeat his earlier success with it.
- Lance Stroll admits to being “a bit superstitious” which is why he drives number 18, the number he had when he won both Formula 3 and Formula 4 championships.
- Sergio Pérez has had the number 11 since his karting days because it was the number worn by a soccer player who inspired him.
- Max Verstappen says his favorite number is three. But this was taken when he got into Formula 1 so he decided to add a second three which gave him # 33.
- Valtteri Bottas initially considered going with number 7 because he likes the number. But in the end he decided on number 77, also because it is similar to the double T in his first and last name. Also, the 77 could be used in place of these letters as part of a logo design.
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