Formula 1 teams pushing for permanent numbers for drivers

[Manoah2u]

1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault
6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes
7 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari
8 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
11 Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes
13 Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault
14 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
17 Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari
19 Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes
20 Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes
21 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari
22 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
25 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Renault
26 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault
27 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
77 Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes
99 Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari

so 2,4,9,10,12,15,16,18,23,24,28-43,45-76 and 78-98 are still available.
77 numbers left for drivers to pick, when the season starts and the final 3 driver spots are filled, we'll have 74 left.
last 10 years we had 31 drivers coming and going, so it's safe to say plenty of numbers available to use.

so when can a driver pick a number?
let's say for for example Button, Alonso and Raikkonen end their f1 careers in 2015 [pure hypothetically].
7,14,22 then no longer are in use. but we have, in addition to these, 74 numbers to choose from.
so will out of respect for the former personal driver number owners, these numbers be reserved for, let's say,
10 years? or are they immediately available?

and what would happen to for example, kevin magnussen. let's hypothetically say this rookie will fail immensely,
and be ditched halfway through or at the end of the year. kevin has number 20.
he won't be getting another f1 seat next year [ended f1 career].

then, let's say felix da costa will jump in next year at toro rosso. he has to pick a number. he prefers 20 because his first karting win was under number 20. and hey, 20 is vacant!
then felix will have a lousy performance [IF]. bye bye felix.
then susie wolff will kick in and gets to pick a number. guess what, 20 is vacant, let's pick 20 because she was 20 when se met sugerdaddy toto.

that'll mean we had 3 different number 20's in 3 years time.
i know i'm talking a bit in extremes but you get the picture.

is there any clarification about the number usage? all i read was 'throughout their career'. well what career? their F1 career? if a driver is just 1 or 2 years in F1, and he no longer has a contract, does that equal end of his F1 career?
what if he has been without a contract for just 1 year? any clarification as to what's regarded 'career' in F1?

[Moxie]

Hulk picks 27:
https://twitter.com/NicoHulkenberg/stat ... 0204966912
Maldonado picks 13? AMAZING.

Full list:
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/01/10/f ... r-numbers/

I love Hulk's choice. I don't know that having 27 will help him get that elusive Ferrari ride. They teased him, and passed. Now he has their number.



In reference to the previous post? What happens when a driver is out of F1 for a year or more then returns, and his original number is taken. Must he automatically choose another number? Will he have the opportunity to buy the number back from the number thief?

[slimfitcasual]

I love Hulk's choice. I don't know that having 27 will help him get that elusive Ferrari ride. They teased him, and passed. Now he has their number.

Great point. For a number with as much legacy (both success and tragedy) as 27, I'm surprised Alonso, Raikkonen or Vettel didn't scoop it up.

[Miguel]

I love Hulk's choice. I don't know that having 27 will help him get that elusive Ferrari ride. They teased him, and passed. Now he has their number.

Great point. For a number with as much legacy (both success and tragedy) as 27, I'm surprised Alonso, Raikkonen or Vettel didn't scoop it up.

But Vettel has no. 5! An example of people that have won WDC (and races before fixed numbers) with #5:

• Michael Schumacher
• Fernando Alonso (Did he pass on no 5? Vettel would have gotten it anyway)
• Damon Hill
• Nigel Mansell
• Emerson Fittipaldi
• Jackie Stewart
• Jim Clark

I'd say that's pretty damn good.

[Jonnycraig]

But Vettel has no. 5! An example of people that have won WDC (and races before fixed numbers) with #5:

• Michael Schumacher
• Fernando Alonso (Did he pass on no 5? Vettel would have gotten it anyway)
• Damon Hill
• Nigel Mansell
• Emerson Fittipaldi
• Jackie Stewart
• Jim Clark

I'd say that's pretty damn good.

You've also missed Vettel himself off the list of those winning a WDC with #5.

[JimClarkFan]

Did pastor choose 13 himself

Perfect number for that guy lol

[mep]

Drivers next year: "I got hit by the 13!"

[CHT]

Did pastor choose 13 himself

Perfect number for that guy lol

Actually over 1 billion people living in Asia doesnt like the number 4.
So I guess it wont make no difference if its 13

[SectorOne]

Did pastor choose 13 himself

Perfect number for that guy lol

Actually over 1 billion people living in Asia doesnt like the number 4.
So I guess it wont make no difference if its 13

So you are saying there´s over a billion Asians that are superstitious regarding the nr 4?
And not just that in Asian culture the nr 13 for us is their nr 4?

[wesley123]

Drivers next year: "I got hit by the 13!"

Maldonado next year: "I'm just unlucky"

[Manoah2u]

Did pastor choose 13 himself

Perfect number for that guy lol

Actually over 1 billion people living in Asia doesnt like the number 4.
So I guess it wont make no difference if its 13

So you are saying there´s over a billion Asians that are superstitious regarding the nr 4?
And not just that in Asian culture the nr 13 for us is their nr 4?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetraphobia

there you go

note for example abscense of number 4 in this elevator (there is no 4th floor lol):

[SectorOne]

Yea but we did not have number 13 in F1 even though 99% never really was superstitious about it, just an old thing that tagged along.

Another explanation from your link,

"In Hong Kong, some apartments such as Vision City[4] and The Arch[5] skipped all the floors from 40 to 49. Immediately above 39/F is 50/F, leading many who are not aware of tetraphobia to believe that some floors are missing. Tetraphobia is not the main reason, but rather as an excuse to have apartments with 'higher' floors, thus increasing price, because higher floors in Hong Kong apartments are usually more expensive"

I cannot imagine one billion people on the planet is so superstitious over a number that sounds like death. that´s one thousand million people.

[PlatinumZealot]

Yea but we did not have number 13 in F1 even though 99% never really was superstitious about it, just an old thing that tagged along.

Another explanation from your link,

"In Hong Kong, some apartments such as Vision City[4] and The Arch[5] skipped all the floors from 40 to 49. Immediately above 39/F is 50/F, leading many who are not aware of tetraphobia to believe that some floors are missing. Tetraphobia is not the main reason, but rather as an excuse to have apartments with 'higher' floors, thus increasing price, because higher floors in Hong Kong apartments are usually more expensive"

I cannot imagine one billion people on the planet is so superstitious over a number that sounds like death. that´s one thousand million people.

Three drivers have used number 13 before...

[PlatinumZealot]

Hamilton has two fours... so Imagine the reaction he gets at the China GP.

[FrukostScones]

Hamilton has two fours... so Imagine the reaction he gets at the China GP.

ALO's 14 is also not perfect for china....