Williams' Sargeant selects his permanent F1 race number

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Williams rookie Logan Sargeant is already slotted himself into second place behind reigning world champion Max Verstappen, at least according to F1's list of race numbers.

While the Dutchman will race once again in 2023 with #1 emblazoned on his Red Bull, Sargeant has opted for #2 as his race number, a digit that will remain with the young American for as long as lasts his career as a Grand Prix driver.

Permanent race numbers for drivers became mandatory in Formula 1 in 2014, but #2 was only picked up in 2017 by then McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne.

But the single digit was temporarily retired at the end of the 2018 season, when Vandoorne departed the grid.

As per F1's sporting regulations, a retired number becomes available again after two years, and Sargeant has now picked up #2.

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"I used to run it in Formula Renault, and I had a pretty good season that year," said the 21-year-old driver from Fort Lauderdale.

"Number 3 is my number, but that’s taken, so I figured why not take a winning number from the past and run with it in F1?"

Speaking of winning numbers from the past, #2 has won 83 times in Formula 1 and ranks third in the greatest number of wins behind #1 – 196 wins, and #5 – 144 wins.

And for good measure, the last driver to win in Formula 1 onboard a car carrying #2 was Red Bull's Mark Webber in 2012 at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.