Why F1 champ Hamilton has '44' on his Merc than No. 1!

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has claimed that the number 44 means more to him than number one, insisting that it is his family number and it would be there on his Mercedes this year as well when he begins the defence of his title.

Hamilton is Formula One's Number 1, and hopes to remain so this year, but the number won't be there on his Mercedes when the season starts in Melbourne on March 15. For him, 44 is closer to the heart and that is what he would continue racing with rather than any single digit.

Under rules introduced at the end of 2013, drivers get to choose their numbers and keep them for the rest of their careers, with the number one reserved for the world champion, if he wants to use it, and the champion must relinquish it when he loses the crown, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel has had it since 2011, but is now number five at Ferrari.

Hamilton said that everyone can use number one when they win the championship, but insisted that it's irrelevant for him. He said that 44 means more to him than number one, adding that it doesn't mean that he is not number one.

Hamilton claimed that the 44 is his family number, and it's the number he had when he first started racing. He claimed that he won his first karting championship with 44, insisting that it means something to him.

The double world champions said that the number one itself, Vettel's had it, Michael Schumacher's had it, all the champions have had it, adding that none of them had 44, claiming that 44 is his.