Vettel and Raikkonen numbers return to F1 on rookie cars

Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen’s car numbers will return to the F1 grid in 2025 after two rookies pick them up.

Stake driver Gabriel Bortoleto will race the German’s number five, whilst Alpine’s Jack Doohan is the Finn’s old number, seven.

Numbers in F1 become unallocated two years after a driver previously used it. Vettel retired at the end of the 2022 season, whilst Raikkonen ended his over-two-decade career the year before.

Doohan had wished to select number 12, but that was already claimed by fellow rookie Kimi Antonelli, who chose the number due to its links to his hero, Ayrton Senna.

The final true rookie, Oliver Bearman, will race his Haas with the number 87, which will be the highest number allocated on the grid next season, taking over from Oscar Piastri and his 81-adorned McLaren.

Whilst Liam Lawson is expected to continue with number 30, it is not known what number might be taken by Isack Hadjar, if the 20-year-old does end up securing a full-time race seat at RB.