What's the secret behind Lewis Hamilton's 'Number 44' on his F1 Cars?

Lewis Hamilton had chosen 44 as the number of his Formula 1 car when it was allowed in 2014. The seven-time world champion used to drive a car with number 1 before the rule. When asked about choosing 44 as the number of his car, the legendary driver revealed it to be the number he always used in his cars before joining the Formula 1 circuit.

A new rule was framed in 2014 where the drivers were allowed to have the number of their wish. It was superstitiously the turnaround Hamilton needed in his career as he got increasingly better. When asked about the secret behind the numbering of his car, Lewis claimed 44 to be the number he always used.

The popular driver said he was given the number 1 after joining the Formula 1 circuit. "It didn't look very good on the car; 44 looks better. That's the number we raced with for many years, and then when I joined Formula One, I had to be whatever the team asked me to be," said Lewis Hamilton in an interview.

'Number 44 has been loyal to me and to my fans' - Lewis Hamilton

The Mercedes driver revealed how things changed when he was allowed to change the number from 1 to 44. Lewis said he chose the number 44 without a second thought when the drivers were allowed to have a particular number forever.

"And then, further into my career, they then decided to allow the drivers to choose their one number, and that would be their number forever, and I went back to the number where it all started," added the Mercedes driver in the interview. 

Hamilton concluded by saying that 44 was the number which was recognized by his family members and friends. He said the number has been loyal to him and his fans. "It's the number that my family recognised the most, it's the number that has been loyal to me and to my fans," Lewis concluded. Similar to Lewis, other drivers have their own numbers which will not change.