FIA confirm Formula One driver numbers

The Federation International de l'Automobile (FIA) have confirmed the numbers Formula One drivers will use for the rest of their careers. From 2014 a new ruling set by the FIA required drivers to choose a permanent numbers for their cars as opposed to ones relating to their constructors' standings during the previous season. The number one car will always be reserved for the defending champion and Sebastian Vettel will use it for the coming campaign. If Vettel fails to win the title in a future season he will revert to number five, while new Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo will use the number three. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg has been given number six, the same number his father Keke Rosberg used in his title-winning season in 1982. Two-time champion Fernando Alonso has taken 14 as, he explained in December, it has been his lucky number since 1996 when he won the karting world title aged 14. Jenson Button has opted for the same number he used during his title-winning 2009 season with Brawn, 22, and his rookie team-mate Kevin Magnussen takes 20, the number he used last year as he won the Formula Renault 3.5 championship. The FIA announcement also indicated Max Chilton will continue at Marussia next season, although the team have yet to confirm that, but he has not been allocated a number, while Caterham have yet to announce either driver for 2014. The confirmed drivers' numbers in full: 1 – Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), 3 – Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), 6 – Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), 7 – Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), 8 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus), 11 – Sergio Perez (Force India), 13 – Pastor Maldonado (Lotus), 14 – Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), 17 – Jules Bianchi (Marussia), 19 – Felipe Massa (Williams), 20 – Kevin Magnussen (McLaren), 21 – Esteban Gutuerrez (Sauber), 22 – Jenson Button (McLaren), 25 – Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso), 26 – Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso), 27 – Nico Hulkenberg (Force India), 44 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 77 – Valtteri Vottas (Williams), 99 – Adrian Sutil (Sauber).