Hamilton will not use number 1

Lewis Hamilton has insisted he will continue to snub number one as his driving number for races despite the tradition that the winner of the Formula One world championship is given the number to wear for the following season as they defend their title.

Champions have traditionally worn the number one, but this changed a few years ago when drivers were given permission to pick their own numbers - an option which many have accepted, including Hamilton.

Instead of one, it is Hamilton's intention to continue using 44, a number which he has made into a brand over the years which is synonymous with him. The Mercedes driver admits being pressured into changing to align with tradition, but there does not seem to be a chance of that happening.

"My engineers want me to and some other people want me to," he told to Brazil's Globo.

"They're trying to get me to put the number 1 on the car, but I don't plan to change. The 44 is personal. Everyone has a lucky number.

"Maybe I'll put the 1 in the 44 or something. Maybe we can play around and do something like that. But I really don't like this number 1 thing. Other drivers have had it in the past but 44, that's mine," Hamilton joked.

Hamilton, who has a tattoo of the number 44 on his neck, won the world title back in 2014 and the question over his number was first posed back then, but he has remained consistent over his preference for his favourite number over the years.

"Forty-four has always been my number, ever since I started [racing]," he said three years ago.

"I won my first championship on number 44. I'm going to work very hard to ask the team if I can keep 44 on my car next year. Number one is a great thing but I will always know I'm number one. Forty-four is my favourite number so I want to keep it on the car."