Feature

Alphabets, first test days and motorsport icons - How the 2025 F1 ACADEMY grid chose their driver numbers

14 March 2025

Before the 2025 season gets underway, this year’s field had one tough choice to make in deciding what race number they’d be rocking throughout the upcoming campaign.

Whilst some stuck with their tried-and-true favourites, others opted for a new number to appear on the grid. We spoke to the class of 2025 to find out what went into picking their race numbers...

Nicole Havrda - #2

Not all drivers have superstitions or rituals behind their racing numbers and American Express’ Nicole Havrda is no exception. There are two numbers to remember when keeping an eye on the Canadian’s on-track activities, with her competing under #6 in the Formula Regional Americas Championship alongside using #2 in F1 ACADEMY.

“Honestly, I don’t really have a big reason (behind it),” she admitted. “In karting, I used to have #2 but it’s just a number to me. It doesn’t really mean too much. In the other series I’m racing in, I’m #6.”

Nina Gademan - #3

During her Zandvoort Wild Card appearance last year, Nina Gademan ran with the #4. However, the Alpine driver will don the #3, used by Lola Lovinfosse last season, for her rookie F1 ACADEMY campaign.

“I’ve always been racing with #3 for my whole life apart from the Wild Card (appearance) and some other stuff,” she explained. “So, I always like to keep #3 as it’s just something I’ve always had.”

Gademan is one of four Wild Cards to graduate to a seat this season

Emma Felbermayr - #5

Previously used by Ella Lloyd during her Singapore Wild Card appearance last year, it was Emma Felbermayr who managed to beat her fellow rookie to it and secure her dream race number this season — one that was made famous in Formula 1 by a four-time World Champion.

Discussing her choice, the Kick Sauber driver explained the significance: “When I was a kid, I was a huge fan of Sebastian Vettel who was racing with the #5. Also, my boyfriend and I got together on the 5th of the month, so it also has an important meaning for me.”

Courtney Crone - #7

There was one number at the top of Courtney Crone’s list for 2025. Unavailable to her during her Miami Wild Card appearance, the Haas driver utilised #77 but has dropped one seven this time around — taking over #7 used last year by Emely De Heus in honour of a legendary NASCAR Champion and team owner.

She said: “I picked it because Alan Kulwicki is my favourite race car driver and, being born on March 7th, seven has always come up in my life a lot. I’m really happy to finally be able to have the #7.”

Aiva Anagnostiadis - #11

For Aiva Anagnostiadis, she’ll be the second member of her family to be associated with #11. With her first chosen number already being used elsewhere, the TAG Heuer driver takes up the number that’s been used by her brother, Mercedes junior James Anagnostiadis.

“It was actually my brother’s number, it’s not my normal number that I use,” she admitted. “Unfortunately that was taken, but my brother’s always had massive luck with that number so I thought why not take it on. It’s got some good heritage behind it and we can hopefully keep going with that.”

TAG Heuer have joined the grid this season as the series' Official Timekeeper and Partner

Alba Larsen - #12

Another first-time pick, Tommy Hilfiger’s Alba Larsen has had a very close attachment to the #12 and will be hoping some of its luckiness rubs off this season.

“I’ll be racing under #12 because that’s my date of birth,” the Dane explained. I was born on the 12th of December, so 12-12 and I was born 30 minutes past 11, so almost 12. I’ve always played under that number in every sport, so that’s something that has followed me and a lucky number.”

Chloe Chambers - #14

The #14 has proved successful for Chloe Chambers as she climbed up the karting ranks, but now the number has another strong link — this time to the world of F1 and to one of her motorsport idols.

“My race number is 14 because I was born on the 14th of the month,” the Red Bull Ford driver noted. “Also, I am under the A14 Management banner, which is Fernando Alonso’s (Management company) and of course, his race number is also 14.”

Rafaela Ferreira - #18

The #18 has been used by Jeddah Wild Card driver Reema Juffali in the past, but now Racing Bulls’ Rafaela Ferreira will be carrying it on her car.

“It’s a really funny story,” the Brazilian began. “When I was eight, before I had a car, my mum was asking me at the dinner table ‘if I had a car, what number would I choose?’ I said, ‘I need to think about it’. I went to my bedroom and I don’t know how, but I noticed that the letter R in the alphabet is the 18th letter. The 18th is my birthday too, so I was like ‘I’m going to choose 18’.”

2025 marks Ferreira's first year racing outside of South America

Ella Lloyd - #20

As the Singapore Wild Card driver, Ella Lloyd was in action with the #5, but with her initial picks already chosen this season, she’s opted to celebrate her birthday instead.

“My number is 20 this year because I couldn’t have the two numbers that I wanted!” the McLaren driver admitted. “I wasn’t very impressed but it is what it is. #28 was my first number in year one and year two of driving and then #5 was my second choice but that was taken as well. Then I needed to have 20, but I was born on the 20th.”

Alisha Palmowski - #21

Another Wild Card graduate, Alisha Palmowski has decided not to stick with #6 she used in Lusail. Like Lloyd, the Red Bull Racing driver has chosen to honour her birthday as well as a significant moment in her career that helped her on her path to F1 ACADEMY.

The Briton explained: “My race number is #21 and that’s because I was born on the 21st of September, which is more special than other birthdays because of the Earth, Wind and Fire song ‘September’, I absolutely love that song. I also won the Ginetta Junior Scholarship in 2021, which was a life-changing moment for me and I’d have never raced a car without winning that scholarship. So 21 is quite a special number to me.”

Aurelia Nobels - #22

As a second-year returnee, Aurelia Nobels had the opportunity to change her number this season when several drivers from last season graduated. However, the PUMA driver has decided to bring the #22 with her again in 2025.

“I wanted the #7,” she admitted. “But someone had it before so I just stayed with the same number I had last year and I like it. I think it matches with me.”

Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member Nobels is continuing to race for PUMA

Joanne Ciconte - #25

There’s a spiritual element to Joanne Ciconte’s choice of #25, as the Australian driver says it represents an angel number — a number that has appeared repeatedly in her life which is believed to be a message or sign from the universe.

“My race number is 25, I chose it because it’s a very meaningful number. It’s an angel number and it has a sort of blessing towards it. I think racing with that number should be amazing.”

Chloe Chong - #27

In F1 ACADEMY’s inaugural season, drivers weren’t able to choose their own car numbers, with Chloe Chong being allocated #14 in 2023. Back for a second year and able to make her own pick, she’s chosen a number that’s held a special significance to her, although admittedly it did take her a while to find one that fit.

“It’s kind of a long story, but when I started karting, I remember my dad when I started competing asked me what number I wanted to compete with. I think because everyone likes the number and I obviously wanted that number, I said the #1 because you win if you’re #1.

“But because the Championship regulations didn’t allow that, because they were reserved for drivers, I picked the #8, but then I was told I couldn’t have any of the numbers from 1 to 10 because they were reserved for drivers. Eight is a really lucky number in Chinese, so then we were like 18 and put a 1 before it.

“Then we got to some of the races and I hadn’t been able to reserve that number, so instead we went with 17 or 27 because it’s one number before. I’ve had some of the very best races of my life with the #27 so I’ve decided to keep it for this year.”

Doriane Pin - #28

Iron Dames have played a pivotal role in Doriane Pin’s racing story so far and the 2024 Vice Champion is commemorating her first steps into the programme with her pick of #28.

“I chose 28 for my racing number because I had an experience on the 28th of February,” the Mercedes driver noted. “It’s the day I went testing with Iron Dames, it was my first test with them and then I joined the team. Thanks to that day, I’m here today and I have this career so it’s a special number and I hope to keep it forever.”

Block is back for her sophomore year with Williams and ART Grand Prix

Lia Block - #57

Standing out from the crowd, Lia Block is trying to make a name for herself with the #57. Whilst the Williams driver enjoys the aesthetically pleasing elements of her choice, she’s come to discover coincidentally some more reasons why it’s the perfect fit for her.

“I was originally 17 when I was in karting, but I wanted something really unique,” she said. “I had never really seen someone use that number and also, I love the symmetry of the 5 and the 7 touching at the top — it’s really weird. Also, weirdly I know it’s the right number because over the years I figured out my helmet size is also 57, my dad’s racing number was 43 and 57 plus 43 is 100, so it’s very fitting.”

Maya Weug - #64

Maya Weug is another driver whose pick wasn’t grounded in any sort of tradition. Instead, the Ferrari driver chose to look back to her roots and reuse the number she won the WSK Final Cup with.

“I’m not very superstitious, I picked #64 because it was the number I had on my kart when I won my first international race. I thought I’d just stick with it and I like it!”

Tina Hausmann - #78

Aston Martin’s Tina Hausmann has switched things up this year. The only returning driver from the 2024 campaign to swap out her race number, she previously raced under the #19 in honour of her brother’s birthday.

“I’ve been racing with the #19 for a really long time, but I felt like I needed a change,” she said. “I’m really happy with 78. To me it makes sense, it represents the TH. The #7 stands for the T and the H is the 8 so that’s why I’m 78.”