Formula 1: Final puzzle piece confirmed in 2023 lineup
By Asher Fair
All drivers now have a number selected for the 2023 Formula 1 season, with Nyck de Vries becoming the 20th and final driver to confirm.
The FIA have published the entry list for the 2023 Formula 1 season, and all 20 drivers officially have their numbers.
Incoming AlphaTauri rookie Nyck de Vries was the final driver to make his decision, and he has ultimately gone with No. 21.
De Vries made his Formula 1 debut with Williams this past season at Monza as the replacement for Alexander Albon during Albon’s bout with appendicitis, and he used the No. 45, the designated number for the Williams reserve driver. He then used the No. 41 during post-season testing with AlphaTauri in Abu Dhabi.
De Vries was one of four drivers who needed to make a decision about his number for the 2023 season.
The first was, of course, two-time reigning world champion Max Verstappen. As the reigning champion, the Red Bull driver has the right to use the No. 1 instead of the No. 33 he picked for his Formula 1 career, and he did indeed take the No. 1 for the second straight season.
The other two were incoming rookies Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant. Piastri, who is set to replace Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren, is set to use the No. 81, and Sargeant, who is set to replace Nicholas Latifi at Williams, is set to use the No. 2.
Nico Hulkenberg is also set to join the grid in 2023 after having not competed full-time since 2019, replacing Mick Schumacher at Haas, but he never lost the right to use his No. 27.
Even though a driver’s number becomes up for grabs after it is not in use for two seasons, Hulkenberg retained his number by making two starts in 2020 and another two in 2022.
All 16 drivers who competed full-time in 2022 and are set to return in 2023 are set to use the same numbers, including the two drivers who switched teams (Fernando Alonso, Alpine to Aston Martin, and Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri to Alpine).
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Bahrain International Circuit is scheduled to get the 2023 Formula 1 season underway with the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, March 5.