The story behind No 44: The Superstitious number that chased F1 Legend Lewis Hamilton since childhood

Formula 1 drivers have some unique numbers to get identified by the race organisers and fans. For F1 drivers, the numbers on their cars have some connection with them. But if a driver wins a world championship, he can choose Number 1 as his racing number until he is a champion. F1 legends like Lewis Hamilton kept his Number 44 with him even after winning the Formula 1 world championship 7 times.

Lewis once used Number 1 in his car during the 2009 Formula 1 season after winning the title with McLaren in 2008. But after one season, he moved back to No. 44 and said, “One didn't look good on the car; 44 looks better.” Since then he never changed his racing number, and next year in his Ferrari he will keep the number 44 with him. 

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Number 44 is a destiny for Hamilton

So why is the Number 44 very close to the British driver? Let's go back to his childhood days. Hamilton was not a rich kid growing up, and his family struggled to keep him in racing. His karting expenses were too high, so his father bought him a fourthhand used Go Kart that came at a very cheap price. 

He won championships using that slower Go Kart against many rich kids who raced with modern machines. The number 44 connects as his father's red Chevrolet Cavalier had the number plate, F44.

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He thought of keeping that 44 in his Karting car. He then bought another second-hand Go-kart that already had Number 44 on it. It then became his family's lucky number. Even if you add the other racing numbers that he used since childhood (2, 22, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 10), the total will be 44. 

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Talking about the number, Lewis Hamilton said, “It was the number that has been very loyal to me since my childhood, and my fans also love that. It's the number that my family recognised the most. When F1 asked drivers to choose one number that would be their number forever, I went back to the number where it all started.”

Over the years, Number 44 became a brand like No. 46 for MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi. Hamilton's personal energy drink sponsor, Monster Energy, introduced a new drink titled LH44 to honour the world champion and his number. Lewis Hamilton founded a charity called 'Mission 44' that helps young people from underserved backgrounds with education, employment, and empowerment.

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