How will we identify drivers on the track in 2025?

There are several ways to identify a driver during a race. Below is a quick guide to instantly recognize the 20 drivers on the starting grid.

With a quarter of the grid changed since last season and only two teams retaining the same driver lineup, it's not always easy to spot who's behind the wheel during a test or race.

That's why fans and teams rely on a few visual cues: the drivers' helmets, their permanent race numbers, and even the color of the small camera mounted above each car. Race numbers The FIA introduced a permanent numbering system in 2014. When a driver makes their debut, they choose a number that will remain with them throughout their Formula 1 career. The only exception is the reigning world champion, who can either keep the number they chose or switch to the iconic number 1, a choice that Max Verstappen has made since 2022. The chosen number appears on the nose of the car and on the sides of the engine cover.

Camera color

A quick way to identify a driver is the T-shaped camera placed above the car's air intake. The camera is either black or fluorescent yellow, a color associated with the driver rather than the team. Historically, the black unit designated the team's No. 1 driver and the yellow one the No. 2, but this tradition is fading as teams such as McLaren and Ferrari are reluctant to clearly designate a lead driver before the first Grand Prix. During their three-year partnership at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton wore a yellow camera, while George Russell's was black. Among the returning drivers, two have changed colors. Alpine's Pierre Gasly now uses a black camera after using a yellow camera in his first two seasons with the French team, and Sauber's Nico Hülkenberg has switched from a yellow camera at Haas to a black camera.

Of the six rookies on the grid, only Isack Hadjar has a black camera; the others—Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan, Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Oliver Bearman—all have yellow cameras.

F1 driver numbers and camera colors for 2025