Vettel explains reason for picking number 5

Quadruple World Champion Sebastian Vettel has explained the reasoning behind picking the number 5 for the rest of his Formula 1 career.

As reigning World Champion, the Red Bull driver will - for the fourth consecutive time - carry the coveted number 1, in 2014.

But if he fails to win a fifth title this season, Vettel has chosen to revert to the number 5 for 2015 and beyond.

"I chose it because I was so successful in karts in 2001 with the number 5," the German told

Sport Bild, "and I had it in 2010 when I became World Champion for the first time.

"Also, several other drivers have taken number 5 to the title," Vettel, a keen student of Formula 1 history, added, "like Michael Schumacher and Nigel Mansell."

Late last year, the FIA invited drivers to make their choices from 2 to 99, and Vettel's countryman Adrian Sutil opted for the latter.

"The explanation is very simple," Sutil explained. "In my life, everything should be the maximum." (GMM)

Subbed by AJN.