close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US
Wolff op de Red Bull Ring

Mercedes star reveals family ties led him to MAJOR F1 decision

Wolff op de Red Bull Ring — Photo: © LAT Images

Mercedes star reveals family ties led him to MAJOR F1 decision

George Russell has his family to thank for one major aspect of his F1 career

Matthew Hobkinson
Lead Editor
F1 Editor & Journalist
 Google Make us your Google favorite

George Russell has revealed that he chose the number 63 for his Formula 1 car, due to his brother opting for the same digits back when he was go-karting as a kid.

F1 drivers make a career-long commitment to their car number, so a lot of thought rightly goes into the decision as to what exactly that should be.

There is only one way that a driver can change their number, but that involves the small task of winning a world title.

READ MORE: Horner shares emotional farewell including Vettel tribute amid tragic news

F1 rules state that a reigning champion can swap to No. 1 should they wish, something that Max Verstappen has now carried for two seasons as he goes in pursuit of his third world championship – temporarily ditching his usual No. 33.

Russell's family ties

George Russell has the No 63 on display when driving for Mercedes
George Russell has the No 63 on display when driving for Mercedes

And Russell, who has the No. 63 adorned on his car, has revealed that it was a family link that saw him opt for it in the first place.

“Well I am number 63 because that was the number my brother used to race with when he was in go karting,” he told Mercedes’ official YouTube channel.

“When he started, that was the number that was assigned to him and has been a family number ever since. So, [it’s] in the family!”

F1 drivers by number

1 Max Verstappen (Also 33)

2 Logan Sargeant

3 Daniel Ricciardo

4 Lando Norris

10 Pierre Gasly

11 Sergio Perez

14 Fernando Alonso

16 Charles Leclerc

18 Lance Stroll

20 Kevin Magnussen

21 Nyck de Vries

22 Yuki Tsunoda

23 Alex Albon

24 Zhou Guanyu

27 Nico Hulkenberg

31 Esteban Ocon

44 Lewis Hamilton

55 Carlos Sainz

63 George Russell

77 Valtteri Bottas

81 Oscar Piastri

READ MORE: Mercedes chief backs Russell to join Verstappen in HUGE F1 prediction

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Max Verstappen glad to have break from F1 ahead of Belgian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen glad to have break from F1 ahead of Belgian Grand Prix

  • 7 minutes ago
F1 2026 Belgian Grand Prix weather forecast - latest from Spa

F1 2026 Belgian Grand Prix weather forecast - latest from Spa

  • 2 hours ago
Max Verstappen’s Abu Dhabi 2021 team radio reveals sad truth about Red Bull exit

Max Verstappen’s Abu Dhabi 2021 team radio reveals sad truth about Red Bull exit

  • 3 hours ago
Max Verstappen to McLaren: What we know as F1 star set for press conference today

Max Verstappen to McLaren: What we know as F1 star set for press conference today

  • Today 10:57
F1 Silly Season: Max Verstappen, McLaren and every driver move tracked

F1 Silly Season: Max Verstappen, McLaren and every driver move tracked

  • Today 10:30
Aston Martin risk 'world of pain' as F1 insiders highlight the dangers of Newey plan

Aston Martin risk 'world of pain' as F1 insiders highlight the dangers of Newey plan

  • Today 09:50

Just in

15:56
Max Verstappen glad to have break from F1 ahead of Belgian Grand Prix
13:55
F1 2026 Belgian Grand Prix weather forecast - latest from Spa
12:27
Max Verstappen’s Abu Dhabi 2021 team radio reveals sad truth about Red Bull exit
10:57
Max Verstappen to McLaren: What we know as F1 star set for press conference today
10:30
F1 Silly Season: Max Verstappen, McLaren and every driver move tracked
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

F1 2026 Belgian Grand Prix weather forecast - latest from Spa Belgian Grand Prix

F1 2026 Belgian Grand Prix weather forecast - latest from Spa

2 hours ago
Max Verstappen’s Abu Dhabi 2021 team radio reveals sad truth about Red Bull exit Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen’s Abu Dhabi 2021 team radio reveals sad truth about Red Bull exit

3 hours ago
F1 Silly Season: Max Verstappen, McLaren and every driver move tracked F1 Silly Season

F1 Silly Season: Max Verstappen, McLaren and every driver move tracked

Today 10:30
The $215m F1 arms race that could give Lewis Hamilton world title number 8 Ferrari vs Mercedes

The $215m F1 arms race that could give Lewis Hamilton world title number 8

Today 08:57
Ontdek het op Google Play
x