Rosberg undecided on using No.1 in 2017

40

Nico Rosberg is yet to decide whether he will carry the number 1 on his car in 2017 as the defending drivers' champion.

A new rule brought in by the FIA in 2014 allowed drivers to select their own number to be used throughout their career. Rosberg opted for the number 6 at the time, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton selecting 44.

As part of the regulations, the defending champion is allowed to carry the number 1 on his car if he wishes, without relinquishing the right to carry his originally selected number in future. However, only Hamilton has won the title since the rule was introduced and each time he has opted to stick with his own number of 44 rather than 1.

Rosberg was asked if he is likely to stick with his own number or carry the number 1, to which he replied: "I have no idea.

"I love number six of course, my Dad won the World Championship with number six as well, so it’s a very lucky number for us. Don’t know, that’s it."

And following praise from Alain Prost, Rosberg suggested he doesn't see the need to use the number 1 on his car to prove anything having secured the title.

"I don’t drive for credit, I drive to win the World Championship and I have achieved that and it was my childhood dream to win the World Championship and that’s done and that’s what I’m excited about and I look forward to celebrating with all the people who have been supporting me."

Technical analysis - Abu Dhabi

Scene at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Quotes of the week

DRIVER RATINGS: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

OPINION: A worthy champion

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.