An unsaid rule that is there in all sports is that a number will become an athlete’s second identity. A simple number sometimes becomes unanimous with an athlete for their entire career. That wasn’t the case in Formula 1 until 2014. In 2014, F1 drivers were allowed to choose their own numbers, and the number chosen by Lewis Hamilton has a wholesome story.

Every driver has a story, or reason, behind choosing their number, and Hamilton is no exception. The Briton went with the number ’44’ as his number of choice. Perhaps an odd choice for many, but Hamilton had 44 on his race suits long before it became mandatory.

The Briton chose this number even for his first karting race. Why? Because when a young Hamilton was asked to choose a number, he couldn’t think of anything. However, the young boy went with his father’s number plate, which was F44. So when the same situation arose in 2014, Hamilton was ready with his number.

With the number 44, Hamilton has laid the foundation for his incredible success. The number has become unanimous with Hamilton and everything he does as well. The Mercedes man even has his charity featuring the number, Mission44. 

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Every reigning world champion gets the opportunity to drive with number 1 in the following season. However, Hamilton has forgone that opportunity every single time to stick with his favorite number.

The story behind number 44 is sending Lewis Hamilton fans into a meltdown

Hamilton’s choice to stick with the number from his father’s car is as good a reason. The man who dedicated his life to making his son an F1 driver sees a small memento of it every time he races.

Now, Hamilton even has a clothing brand featuring the number called plus44world. Safe to say, a simple choice made by a young Hamilton has become his second identity.

Hamilton’s fans will find any reason to associate the man with the number.

Some fans might be more invested in 44 than Hamilton himself with suggestions of retiring the number from the sport. However, nothing can top the suggestion of +44 being England’s dialing code because of Hamilton.

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Safe to say, Hamilton has made the number 44 his own, especially among his fans, and the tweets prove exactly that.