Albon tributes Rossi with 2019 F1 number

Joas van Wingerden Wednesday 19 December 2018 12:36

Albon tributes Rossi with 2019 F1 number

Alexander Albon will pay tribute to MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi by racing with the number 23 on his Toro Rosso car in 2019. Albon's new number is half of the famous 46 that has been long associated with the Italian seven-time motorcycle world champion.

Albon raced with #46 in karting, as well as borrowing Rossi's 'The Doctor' insignia, but he has opted not to repeat this in F1.

Article continues under video

I’ve always been a Rossi fan but since I can’t replace the doctor himself, I thought I’d have half of it ???????? #quickmaths #AA23 pic.twitter.com/WaKGjYL5uE — Alex Albon (@alex_albon) December 18, 2018

McLaren rookie Lando Norris also claimed to have considered racing with the number 46 in tribute to Rossi, but he will debut in F1 with #4 on his McLaren.

Will Stevens is the only driver to have used #46 in F1 since individual driver numbers were introduced in 2014 – doing so on his debut appearance for Caterham at the 2014 Abu Dhabi GP.

Other newly assigned numbers for the 2019 season will see Robert Kubica race with 88, Antonio Giovinazzi use 99 and George Russell take 63.

Albon's Toro Rosso teammate Daniil Kvyat will once again race with 26 – as he did before departing F1 in 2017.

MORE: Verstappen to get hands on Honda-powered Red Bull for first time
MORE: Hamilton responds to 'slums' backlash on Instagram

Latest News

Daniel Ricciardo

RB chief issues Ricciardo BLAME statement

Yesterday 21:57

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton issues INCREDIBLE statement ahead of major change

Yesterday 18:57

F1 News & Gossip

Mercedes star reveals sporting DEBUT with F1 break plans announced

Yesterday 14:57

F1 News & Gossip

F1 star celebrates exciting announcement as pregnancy update revealed

Yesterday 10:57

F1 News & Gossip

Hamilton’s STAR-STUDDED Christmas celebrations recalled in girlfriend anecdote

December 25, 2024 22:56

Lando Norris

Norris RETURNS F1 rival’s secret Santa gift

December 25, 2024 18:58

More news

F1 News 24/7

Races

About GPFans

GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.

We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.

With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.

Follow us on your favorite social media channel

Corporate & Media

Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY