The reason why Verstappen changed 33 to the coveted number 1: “Maybe it's the only time I can use it in my life”

Formula One F1 - Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - March 18, 2022 Red Bull's Max Verstappen before practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

The new Formula 1 season is about to start and with it will also begin the first title defense of Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who in the previous edition snatched the crown from the sevenfold Maxima champion, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).

The young 24-year-old does not want to miss the opportunity and wants to show that he arrives at this new World Cup as the current champion. That is why he decided to leave aside the number 33 that accompanies him since his debut to cover the coveted number 1.

Mad Max fans will have to get used to seeing this new digit, both on their hull and in the car, after the rider decided to use the option offered by Formula 1 since the regulatory change that was implemented in 2014.

The Vertstappen car will have the number 1 in its structure (Reuters)

According to the rules, since 2014 F1 allows drivers to choose the number they want between 2 and 99, reserving 1 for the current champion, who will only be able to keep it if he succeeds in defending the crown. The possibility of wearing this bib number, however, is optional and that is why Lewis Hamilton was never seen using that digit.

After eight years 1 will return to the track. It was in 2014 when Sebastian Vettel inaugurated the new numerical regulations after winning the title for the fourth consecutive time the previous year. Until then, the numbering was awarded for the position they had placed in the Constructors' World Cup of the previous World Cup, so the numbers varied from one edition to another.

“I don't like number one,” Lewis Hamilton explained after cutting with Vettel's hegemony in 2014 and agreeing to the possibility of changing the bib. However, the Briton never in his five defenses (in 2009 there was no such rule) wanted to use it. Nico Rosberg directly retired after being crowned champion in 2016.

Verstappen must successfully defend the title if he wants to continue using number 1 (Reuters)

“How many times do you have the opportunity to drive with number one? And it's also good for marketing, you know. So it's smart to do it,” Verstappen considered in November last year during a press conference when asked whether he would use that digit in the case of proclaiming himself champion.

After winning the title in Abu Dhabi and during the preseason ahead of his first defense, the Dutchman again referred to his choice: “One is the best number there is, so it was very easy for me to choose him. I hope the 33rd won't come back next year,” he joked.

It is that in the event that any driver manages to snatch the crown from him, Verstappen will be obliged to leave that digit for his next World Cup.

The Red Bull racer made his debut in 2015 with number 33 in Alpha Tauri. Later, he kept the same number after his arrival at the Austrian team and the flags and t-shirts with that figure soon appeared in the stands. While his name on the Instagram account appears as MaxVerstappen1, his Twitter account continues to be Max33Verstappen.

“How many times can you do it? I don't know, it might be the only time I can in my life,” explained Mad Max about the change in early 2022. “I will definitely put it in the car.”

ALL THE DRIVERS' NUMBERS IN F1 2022

1st Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

3. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)

4. Lando Norris (McLaren)

5. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)

6. Nicholas Latifi (Williams)

9. Nikita Mazepin (Haas)

10. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)

11. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

14. Fernando Alonso (Alpine)

16. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

18. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)