Introduction to the 2026 Formula 1 Season and New Regulations
With the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season just around the corner, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has approved and released the list of numbers that the 22 drivers, including Mexican driver Sergio Pérez, will wear. This is the first time in 76 years of Formula 1 history that there will be 22 drivers, following the inclusion of Cadillac as the eleventh team.
Driver Number Regulations
According to the regulations, drivers can choose a permanent number between 2 and 99. The number 1 is reserved for the previous season’s champion, meaning that British driver Lando Norris (McLaren) will carry this digit for the 2026 season. Consequently, former champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) had to switch from his previously used number 33, as the rule change allowed him to adopt the number 3.
Previous Number Change Restrictions
Historically, drivers were required to maintain the same number throughout their Formula 1 careers. However, recent rule adjustments now allow for changes with commission approval. Verstappen specifically requested this change to become number 3, which was previously used by Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo in 2024. This rule modification enabled Verstappen to take the number 3 in 2026, with only one full season (2025) having gone unused.
Other Driver Movements
Apart from Verstappen and Norris, Mexican driver Sergio Pérez and Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas will continue with their long-standing numbers, 11 and 77 respectively, as they both have more than a decade of experience in Formula 1. Although neither was active during the 2025 season, they return in 2026 with their familiar numbers. Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda’s number 22 transitioned from active to inactive, as he is no longer part of the 2026 driver lineup after being a teammate to Verstappen in Red Bull during the 2025 season.
New Drivers and Their Numbers
Four drivers chose their numbers for the first time in 2025 and will keep them in 2026: Gabriel Bortoleto (5), Isack Hadjar (6), Kimi Antonelli (12), and Oliver Bearman (87). The only newcomer in the 2026 season is British driver Arvid Lindblad, who will debut with Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s sister team, wearing the number 41.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are the new regulations for driver numbers in Formula 1 for the 2026 season? Drivers can now choose a permanent number between 2 and 99, with the number 1 reserved for the previous season’s champion. Previous restrictions on changing numbers have been relaxed, allowing drivers to switch with commission approval.
- Who are the notable drivers and their assigned numbers for the 2026 Formula 1 season?
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 3
- Sergio Pérez (Cadillac) – 11
- Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – 77
- Gabriel Bortoleto – 5
- Isack Hadjar – 6
- Kimi Antonelli – 12
- Oliver Bearman – 87
- Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – 41
- What happened to Yuki Tsunoda’s number 22? Tsunoda’s number transitioned from active to inactive as he is no longer part of the 2026 driver lineup.
