Initials followed by a number seems to be all the rage in elite sport these days. Cristiano Ronaldo’s CR7 brand is the obvious example, but right up there with it is LH44. Lewis Hamilton races with number 44 on his Mercedes F1 car for special reason. For many drivers, a racing number is so much more than that – and that is true for Lewis Hamilton who has incorporated the number 44 into many aspects of his life.
Since drivers were permitted to select their own numbers under Formula 1 regulations, Lewis Hamilton has raced under this number. Considering that the British driver has won a record-tying seven world titles and more races than any other person in history, it’s safe to argue that this is a fortunate omen for him.
Every driver has the option to select a number that will be kept for them for the duration of their career. The champion of the previous season is entitled to the top spot, although they are not required to take it.
Most do; up until the number 33, Max Verstappen was unmatched until he defeated Hamilton to win the 2021 championship. The Red Bull driver has since raced with the top spot and gained two more titles to his already impressive resume.
Hamilton, though, is an anomaly. The British player decided to hang onto his number 44 even at the pinnacle of his career, when he was winning titles only for enjoyment. He once clarified this in a video for Petronas, the sponsors of his Mercedes team, so it’s obvious that it holds particular significance for him.
“My dad had a red Cavalier, and the license plate on it was F44 when I first started racing at the age of eight. He thus utilized 44. His suggestion turned into the fortunate number for the family.”
At the 2019 BBC Sports Personality of the Year presentation, he provided a comparable justification, saying, “I always start with the number 44 because that’s the number that I had on my go-kart when I was eight years old.” Since it was my dad’s car, with registration number F44, taking on the challenge is something new every year.”
It has gained popularity with Hamilton’s massive social media following; users of Twitter and Instagram frequently use the hashtag #LH44. Additionally, the number has been quite important in other areas of his life in recent years.
His apparel line, +44, donates a portion of its online sales earnings to his charity, Mission 44. Apart from his racing career, Hamilton’s genuine passion projects are advocating for and attempting to better the lives of young people from disadvantaged situations through his platform.
The primary goals of Mission 44 are to “build a more inclusive education system led by diverse teaching staff, open doors to careers within STEM, motorsport and the creative industries and empower more young people to become an influential force for change” .
