Ferrari welcomes Lewis Hamilton and his #44, but he won’t be the first Ferrari driver to claim an F1 victory with that number. The Briton leaves Mercedes after a long era of success, ready to settle in at Maranello to pursue the most ambitious title of his career: the eighth, surpassing Michael Schumacher. Yet, in the history of the Prancing Horse, someone else had already dreamed of glory with the same number.
The history of Formula 1 is intertwined with that of Ferrari. The Prancing Horse is the most recognized symbol in motorsport, and red is the most coveted color to wear on the track. Starting in 2025, a seven-time world champion will once again drive a Maranello car: Lewis Hamilton will make his Ferrari debut, bringing with him his beloved #44.
Should he succeed with Scuderia Ferrari, however, he would miss out on a curious record: he wouldn’t be the first Formula 1 driver to win a Grand Prix with #44. To find that milestone, one must look back through the annals of history, all the way to the early days of the sport. It was 1955, and among the legends fielded by Ferrari was Maurice Trintignant.
Maurice Trintignant: #44, the first French winner in F1
Born in Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes in 1917, Maurice Trintignant is one of France’s Formula 1 heroes. A true gentleman behind the wheel, he excelled in understanding his car and often triumphed under challenging conditions, where sheer skill made all the difference. In Formula 1, he achieved two victories, in addition to a win with the Ferrari 375MM at the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It was his first of two Formula 1 wins—at Monaco in 1955—that secured his place in history. He became the first French driver to win in the top series and, in this instance, also the first driver with #44 to win for Ferrari.
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