Jack Doohan, the Australian driver, is set to join Alpine’s Formula 1 team in 2025 alongside Pierre Gasly. Initially, Doohan aimed to race with the number 12, believing it was available, only to discover it had already been claimed by Mercedes’ upcoming rookie, Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The Reason Behind the Number Change
Initially choosing number 12, Doohan’s plans changed when he learned it belonged to Antonelli. Antonelli picked this number in homage to Ayrton Senna, who famously raced with 12 from 1985 to 1988, a period culminating in his world championship triumph.
Settling on Number Seven
After reassessing his options, Doohan announced in a video shared by the Alpine team that he will race with number 7. This number carries personal significance for the young driver:
“Number seven will be my race number for 2025. I’m super psyched. I wanted a number that I raced with before, something meaningful. I raced with number seven in 2019. Additionally, it’s special because it’s associated with one of my idols, Kimi Raikkonen.”
During 2019, Doohan competed under number 7 while racing for Double R Racing in the Euroformula Open Championship.
Kimi Raikkonen Connection
Doohan’s admiration for Kimi Raikkonen, who used the number 7 throughout his F1 career from 2014 to 2021, played a significant role in his decision. With Raikkonen retiring, the number 7 became available this season, allowing Doohan to proudly adopt it and aim to further its legacy.
F1 Number Assignment Rules
According to Formula 1’s current sporting regulations, drivers must select a permanent number that remains with them throughout their F1 careers. Numbers are reintroduced to the pool only if a driver’s F1 career is deemed ended after a two-year absence from Grand Prix racing.
This regulation ensured the availability of number 7 for Doohan following Raikkonen’s retirement, presenting a perfect opportunity for Doohan to pick a number tied to his past successes and admiration for the Finnish champion.
Looking Ahead
With the upcoming season in mind, Doohan is excited to join Alpine and make his mark in the world of Formula 1. He hopes racing under number 7 will bring a blend of familiarity and added motivation by channeling the spirit of his racing idol, Kimi Raikkonen. As he embarks on this new journey, fans eagerly anticipate seeing how he will create new memories and achievements with this meaningful number.
