Hamilton runs number one on Mercedes in Abu Dhabi

Lewis Hamilton emerged for the start of FP1 for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with the champions' number one adorning his Mercedes.

Hamilton did likewise last year, running number one in FP1, before returning to his customary 44 for the remainder of the weekend. A repeat is expected this time around.

The six-time world champion has previously expressed a distaste for using the #1, saying in a recent interview on the Graham Norton Show: "My race number when I was eight years old was 44.

"Even though I am number one, and I have been for the last couple of years and I should have number one on my car, I keep 44 on there. So every year I feel like I'm starting a clean slate and no one's champion, but I want to be the champion."

It is speculated that Mercedes' marketing powers-that-be may be behind utilising the chance to use #1 on the car, for use in promoting the Silver Arrows' sustained success on-track.

#1️⃣ 👀 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/hU68RMSLsE

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) November 29, 2019

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