Max Verstappen says he will continue to race in the number one race in Formula 1 in 2023 for as long as he is the defending champion, which includes the 2023 season.
After winning the world title in Abu Dhabi last year, Verstappen took the number one spot and used it for the 2022 championship.
The Dutchman, who has won back-to-back world titles, has the option of wearing number one or his own race number 33, which he has worn since he was a kart driver. However, he has decided to follow the tradition of wearing the number of the world champion.
“Yes, I will use number 1 once more in the upcoming season. Verstappen started in Abu Dhabi, “Starting number one is the most beautiful number for any racing driver for me.”
“How frequently do you get the opportunity to drive with the starting number one in your career in Formula One? There’s no telling.
If I’m no longer the world champion, I can always return to number 33. However, as long as I am world champion, I will always use number one.”
After Sebastian Vettel in 2014, when the rule introducing personal race numbers was introduced, Verstappen became the first driver to race with the number one on his car in 2022.
While Nico Rosberg did not defend his world title from 2016, Lewis Hamilton chose to keep his now-famous number 44.
Verstappen sees the well-known No. 1 as a reward for his absolutely dominant 2022 season with Red Bull Racing, which he believes will be difficult to duplicate in 2023.
“This has been an exceptionally extraordinary season, for me as well as for the group,” he recognized.
“Obviously, this is very important for the entire team because we won the constructors’ title for the first time since 2013.
“I think it will be very difficult to match or even surpass this year in the future.”
“Obviously, the mindset should be to improve each season, but that won’t be easy after our year. We ought to also treasure 2022 and take pleasure in these times.”
Nick de Vries and Logan Sargeant, both rookies in F1 2023, have not yet specified which race numbers they will use in their debut F1 campaigns.