Champion Vettel to race number 5 in F1 career (Update)
World champion Sebastian Vettel will carry the coveted number 1 for the fourth consecutive season, but he has selected 5 – made famous by Nigel Mansell's 'red 5' and Mario Andretti's John Player Lotus Black and Gold 5 – for the remainder of his time in formula one.
Many of the race numbers had already been divulged by drivers through their social media pages or via the media, but curiously Lotus' Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado has plumped for 13 — considered unlucky by many and not seen in F1 for years.
Also curiously, the FIA marked Lotus' entire place on the 2014 entry list as "subject to confirmation", just days after the Enstone based team said it will be sitting out the opening test of the pre-season late this month.
McLaren's Jenson Button will carry number 22, resembling "two little ducks", as he did in 2009 when he won the title with Brawn GP.
"Quack quack!" he told his 1.6 million Twitter followers.
Nico Hulkenberg has secured F1's iconic number 27, while Adrian Sutil will carry 99 on his car and helmet.
Like Lotus, Marussia's place on the 2014 is "subject to confirmation", as is Max Chilton's race number.
| Chosen No. | Driver’s Name | Team | Name of the Engine |
| 1 * | Sebastian VETTEL (DEU) | Red Bull Racing | Renault |
| 3 | Daniel RICCIARDO (AUS) | Red Bull Racing | Renault |
| 44 | Lewis HAMILTON (GBR) | Mercedes | Mercedes |
| 6 | Nico ROSBERG (DEU) | Mercedes | Mercedes |
| 14 | Fernando ALONSO (ESP) | Ferrari | Ferrari |
| 7 | Kimi RAIKKONEN (FIN) | Ferrari | Ferrari |
| 8 | Romain GROSJEAN (FRA) | Lotus | Renault |
| 13 | Pastor MALDONADO (VEN) | Lotus | Renault |
| 22 | Jenson BUTTON (GBR) | McLaren | Mercedes |
| 20 | Kevin MAGNUSSEN (DEN) | McLaren | Mercedes |
| 27 | Nico HULKENBERG (DEU) | Force India | Mercedes |
| 11 | Sergio PEREZ MENDOZA (MEX) | Force India | Mercedes |
| 99 | Adrian SUTIL (DEU) | Sauber | Ferrari |
| 21 | Esteban GUTIERREZ (MEX) | Sauber | Ferrari |
| 25 | Jean-Eric VERGNE (FRA) | Scuderia Toro Rosso | Renault |
| 26 | Daniil KVYAT (RUS) | Scuderia Toro Rosso | Renault |
| 19 | Felipe MASSA (BRA) | Williams | Mercedes |
| 77 | Valtteri BOTTAS (FIN) | Williams | Mercedes |
| 17 | Jules BIANCHI (FRA) | Marussia | Ferrari |
| TBA | Max CHILTON (GBR) | Marussia | Ferrari |
| TBA | TBA | Caterham | Renault |
| TBA | TBA | Caterham | Renault |
* For the duration of his F1 career, Sebastian Vettel chose N°5
** Subject to confirmation
01/10/14 One of the many changes going into 2014 is that Formula One drivers will be picking a number for the duration of their career, rather than going according to the previous year’s Constructor’s Championship.
The FIA has published a full list on Friday, confirming a few new picks in addition to the ones drivers have already revealed themselves via social media.
Of note, four-time defending World Champion Sebastian Vettel has picked No. 5 (the number he won his first title with, in 2010) for years he isn’t carrying the No. 1 as defending champion.
Max Chilton, interestingly, is also on the published list of drivers for Marussia, but the Briton has not yet been confirmed by the team to race for a second season.
Here’s the breakdown by team:
| Team | Driver 1 | Driver2 |
| Red Bull | 1-Sebastian Vettel | 3-Daniel Ricciardo |
| Mercedes | 6-Nico Rosberg | 44-Lewis Hamilton |
| Ferrari | 7-Kimi Raikkonen | 14-Fernando Alonso |
| Lotus | 8-Romain Grosjean | 13-Pastor Maldonado |
| McLaren | 20-Kevin Magnussen | 22-Jenson Button |
| Force India | 11-Sergio Perez | 27-Nico Hulkenberg |
| Sauber | 21-Esteban Gutierrez | 99-Adrian Sutil |
| Williams | 19-Felipe Massa | 77-Valtteri Bottas |
| Marussia | 17-Jules Bianchi | TBA-Max Chilton |
| Caterham | TBA Ride-Buyer 1 | TBA Ridebuyer 2 |