List of Formula One driver numbers
Since the start of the 2014 Formula One season, drivers have to choose an available starting number before entering their first Grand Prix.[1] Drivers carry this number throughout their Formula One career.
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The FIA have also issued temporary numbers to drivers that are exceptions to this rule, for example if a driver withdraws from a race and a reserve driver takes their place then they receive a team-allocated number, this is also the case of free-practice-only drivers. Some examples of those numbers are 36 (used by Antonio Giovinazzi in two races), 40 (used by Paul di Resta in one race), 45 (used by André Lotterer in one race), 46 (used by Will Stevens in one race) and 47 (used by Stoffel Vandoorne in one race).
A permanent number can only be reallocated if the driver associated with that number has not participated in a race for two entire consecutive seasons;[2] for example, a driver picking his number for 2020 can not choose numbers which were last used in 2018 or 2019, unless the number was issued temporarily by the FIA. For instance, Jenson Button's number 22 would have been available for re-allocation in 2019 after his departure from full-time racing in 2016, but an appearance in the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix replacing Fernando Alonso, who was participating in the 2017 Indianapolis 500 on that weekend instead, means his number may not be reassigned until 2020 at the earliest.
The reigning Formula One World Drivers' Champion can elect to use their allocated permanent number or car number 1 during the year following their title. The number 1 was most recently used by Sebastian Vettel in 2014, with Lewis Hamilton keeping his permanent number 44 after his title wins in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and with Nico Rosberg retiring after his championship win in 2016.
The number 17 was used by Jules Bianchi in 2014 before his crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. Following his death, the number was retired as a mark of respect.[3]
Formula One driver numbers
The following lists all Formula One driver numbers which were claimed as career numbers since the 2014 season.
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Timeline
This table shows the usage of each driver number over time since their introduction in 2014.
(*) indicates that a number was used in race as a temporary number, by a driver substituting for another.
† indicates that a number was used in free practice only, not in any races.
Notes
- The 2019 World Drivers' Champion elected to use his own number for 2020.
- Vandoorne used number 47 while substituting for another driver.
- Vettel used number 1 when he was reigning World Champion in 2014.
- The number 17 was retired by FIA following Bianchi's death in 2015.[4]
- Stevens used number 46 while substituting for another driver.
- Hartley used number 39 while substituting for another driver.
- Rossi used number 42 while substituting for other drivers.
- Giovinazzi used number 36 while substituting for another driver.
References
- Sam Tremayne. "Formula 1 drivers to get permanent numbers from 2014". Autosport.com. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- https://www.fia.com/file/61679/download/20079?token=EmWuXJe1
- Parkes, Ian (20 July 2015). "The FIA will retire Jules Bianchi's number 17 from Formula 1". Autosport. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
- "Number 17 to be retired in Bianchi's honour". Formula One World Championship Limited. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
- "F1 2014: The reasons behind the numbers". GP Update. GP Update. 8 February 2014. Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- Tremayne, Sam (9 December 2013). "Formula 1 drivers to get permanent numbers from 2014". Motorsport. Motorsport.com. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- "2015 F1 driver numbers". Crash.net. Crash.net. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2016.