Kimi Raikkonen’s iconic Formula 1 race number is set to make a return in 2025, as Australian driver Jack Doohan takes on the number 7 car for his F1 debut with Alpine. This number, famously worn by Raikkonen from 2014 to 2021, will now be part of Doohan’s rookie season after Raikkonen’s retirement.
Raikkonen’s number became available after his retirement, and Doohan, who previously raced with the number 7 in the Euroformula Open Championship in 2019, expressed his excitement about adopting it for his Formula 1 career. Initially, Doohan considered using number 12, but it was already claimed by Mercedes’ rising star, Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
“So that’s done. Number 7 will be my racing number for 2025. I’m really excited,” Doohan shared in a video posted by Alpine. “I wanted to go with a number I’ve used before, something that has personal meaning for me. I raced with number 7 in 2019, and one of my idols, a very special driver, Kimi Raikkonen, also used that number. I hope I can carry on the legacy of his success and bring my own luck to the number.”
Raikkonen’s number 7 became iconic throughout his F1 career, especially after he won the 2007 World Championship. His association with the number was part of what made his career so memorable. By taking on this number, Doohan hopes to honor the Finnish driver and continue the legacy he created.
Meanwhile, Antonelli, the young Mercedes driver, revealed that he would stick with the number 12 for the 2025 season. “I’ve always used number 12 since Formula 4, and it’s always felt right for me. There’s no reason to change it for next year,” Antonelli said.
With these changes, Formula 1 fans are sure to see a fresh generation of drivers carry forward the numbers of the sport’s legends, as both Doohan and Antonelli continue to develop their careers.
