How to spot F1 drivers on the 2023 circuit

After the season's opening Grand Prix, FanF1 gives you the tools to instantly recognize each driver.

The 2023 grid welcomes three newcomers: Oscar Piastri, Logan Sargeant, and, to a lesser extent, Nyck De Vries, while Nico Hülkenberg makes his return. Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso have also changed teams, meaning fans will need to quickly familiarize themselves with these changes in order to keep up with the latest developments.

There are three particularly useful clues for identifying a driver. The helmet remains the main way to distinguish between teammates, but the addition of the Halo in 2018 has made this task more difficult. In addition, drivers often redesign their helmets for marketing purposes or for special events, so it is essential to look beyond the helmet.

Since 2014, the FIA has required each driver to choose a permanent race number for the duration of their F1 career, with the reigning champion allowed to use either the number of their choice or the iconic number “1.” Max Verstappen chose the latter last season and is now in his second year with the number 1. A more immediate visual identifier is the color of the T-shaped camera mounted above the cockpit; each team assigns black to one driver and yellow to the other. The influx of rookies and driver transfers has shaken up these colors. For example, Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso now have yellow cameras, whereas they used to have black cameras in their former teams.