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The FIA has confirmed that reigning Formula 1 champion, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton will continue to race using the number 44 this season.

The Briton has finally decided to race with number 44 instead of using the number 1 which is usually reserved for reigning world champions.

This means that the iconic number 1 can no longer readily identify the World Champion. This has been a dependable feature of Grand Prix racing for decades.

Starting grid in 2014. (Photo: WRi2)

Here is the shape of the Formula 1 grid (as of January 6th, 2015):

MERCEDES AMG
Chassis: W06
Engine: Mercedes
44 Lewis Hamilton
6 Nico Rosberg
Test/reserve/third driver: Pascal Wehrlein

INFINITI RED BULL RACING
Chassis: RB11
Engine: Renault
3 Daniel Ricciardo
26 Daniil Kvyat
Test/reserve/third driver: Sebastien Buemi

MARTINI WILLIAMS F1
Chassis: FW37
Engine: Mercedes
19 Felipe Massa
77 Valtteri Bottas
Test/reserve/third driver: Susie Wolff

SCUDERIA FERRARI
Chassis: TBA
Engine: Ferrari
5 Sebastian Vettel
7 Kimi Raikkonen
Test/reserve/third drivers: Esteban Gutierrez - Jean-Eric Vergne

McLAREN HONDA
Chassis: MP4-30
Engine: Honda
14 Fernando Alonso
22 Jenson Button
Test/reserve/third driver: Kevin Magnussen

SAHARA FORCE INDIA
Chassis: VJM08
Engine: Mercedes
27 Nico Hulkenberg
11 Sergio Perez
Test/reserve/third driver: TBA

SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO
Chassis: STR10
Engine: Renault
33 Max Verstappen
55 Carlos Sainz junior
Test/reserve/third driver: TBA

LOTUS F1 TEAM
Chassis: E23
Engine: Mercedes
8 Romain Grosjean
13 Pastor Maldonado
Test/reserve/third driver: TBA

MANOR GRAND PRIX RACING
Chassis: TBA
Engine: Ferrari
Drivers to be announced
Test/reserve/third drivers: TBA

SAUBER F1 TEAM
Chassis: C34
Engine: Ferrari
9 Marcus Ericsson
12 Felipe Nasr
Test/reserve/third driver: Raffaele Marciello

CATERHAM F1 TEAM
Chassis: CT05 (from 2014)
Engine: Renault
Drivers to be announced
Test/reserve/third driver: TBA