New F1 Driver Numbers

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wardez
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Autosport
Formula 1 did not adopt a regular numbering system until early in 1973, when car numbers were awarded based roughly on the constructors' standings.

Those numbers became 'permanent', with only the team running the champion driver changing for the following year and assuming #1 and #2 for its cars. The team previously holding #1 then took the numbers left vacant by the new #1 runner.

This system was maintained until 1996, when the present numbering method based on annual constructors' championship positions took effect.
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111651

and

The #1 has not always been associated with the World Champion driver. Many men who
were the season’s reigning champion have raced under different numbers – and not always
with the same number all season long.
In fact the first man to win a World Championship Grand Prix in a car carrying #1 was,
perhaps inevitably, Juan Manuel Fangio, who made a habit of winning – 25 times in a Grand
Prix career lasting from 1950 through 1958.
Not until the 40th race of his 51-race F1 career, however, did the #1 grace his car: a Lancia
Ferrari D50 with which he won the British Grand Prix in 1956.
In the Championship’s first decade, the #1 won races only five times; in the Sixties that
number rose to 11; it increased steadily as the practice of giving that number to the reigning
World Champion for the entire season following his title success became established.
The #1’s success reached dizzy heights in the 21st century, though, thanks to two Germans. In
the 14 seasons to date, #1 has been the race-winner on no fewer than 84 occasions, helped
considerably by seasons like 2004 and 2013 – when Michael Schumacher and Sebastian
Vettel each scored 13 Grand Prix wins.
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http://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/external_archive/node6948/AGP1050_2014_F1_Media_Kit_A4.pdf
 
It must be a slow news week, because already the speculation about numbers for the Class of 2015 is beginning. Max Verstappen has been tipped for #30, the only number he has raced cars with, and Felipe Nasr #40, the number he used at Williams.
 
prisonermonkeys
It must be a slow news week, because already the speculation about numbers for the Class of 2015 is beginning. Max Verstappen has been tipped for #30, the only number he has raced cars with, and Felipe Nasr #40, the number he used at Williams.
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The number branding doesn't seem to have taken off this year, I can recall a few drivers' numbers but not many. Nothing like a Red 5 this season, that's for sure.
 
Yeah they should be able to have free colour choice, wouldn't mind seeing an Aussie flagged themed number 3 on Ricciardos car.
 
Carlos Sainz Jr. will use number 55 for Toro Rosso next season. He posted it on twitter with the hashtag #carlo55ainz

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Max Verstappen has confirmed that he will use #33, as it is a number he used in karting.

Double numbers are increasingly popular. We now have #11 (Perez), #22 (Button), #33 (Verstappen), #44 (Hamilton), #55 (Sainz) and #77 (Bottas). Sutil was #99, but he's unlikely to return.
 
GTPorsche
If Sutil is gone, does that open up the number again to be used by someone else?
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It's unclear what might happen. The FIA probably has the power to keep numbers out of rotation for a while - when Hamilton retires, I expect #44 will be shelved for a while - but Sutil only raced for a single season and he's hardly a legend of the sport. I wouldn't be surprised if #4, #10, #20, #21, #25 and #99 go back into rotation after a year or so in case drivers like Magnussen return (I imagine that the FIA will keep #17 out for a while).
 
I read elsewhere that a number become available again if the driver isn't active in F1 for 2 years, I read that on the internet so it could be wrong though.

prisonermonkeys
(I imagine that the FIA will keep #17 out for a while).
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I don't see why they would to be honest, Jules only ran the number for half a season so it's hardly synonymous with him and he never really wanted it in the first place (it was his 4th choice).
 
Two years sounds reasonable.

Drivers do return to the sport after a season or might wait in reserve while plying their trade in other formulae. It's less the case now since teams have junior and test drivers waiting in reserve.
 
GOTMAXPOWER
I don't see why they would to be honest, Jules only ran the number for half a season so it's hardly synonymous with him and he never really wanted it in the first place (it was his 4th choice).
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Because it's bad PR to just throw it back in. No one is going to want it anyway with an event like Bianchi's crash behind it, and so the FIA might as well avoid the potential media finger pointing of throwing it back in too early.
 
Liquid
Formula One bingo could go somewhere.
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1 Pablo Montoya
Jarno 2le
Number 3, JPM will put you up a tree
Open the door, number 4
Our Nige, red 5
Flav's up to his tricks, number 6
Lotus 7, better than a 911
Number 8, two doughnuts make
Number 9, Bernie's committed no crime
Ayrton Senna, lend me a 10ner
Number 11, no drive for Kevin



Seb has won but it's Multi 21

Stewart GP, 23

Formula Three, 33

Racing line, 39

Jean-Eric Vergne can't drive, 55

Riccardo Patrese, number 80

A pair of Flavs', 88
 
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