FIA announces driver numbers

[vcs316]

The FIA has announced which numbers 2014's drivers will use for the rest of their careers after each submitted requests over the winter.

The new rule has been agreed upon to help the sport commercialise the drivers, allocating a number they will stick with until they retire. All the drivers were asked to submit three numbers in order of preference and any clashes were decided by last year's drivers' championship standings.

World champion Sebastian Vettel has opted to use No.1 next year, which is traditionally reserved for the champion, but should he fail to retain the title he will revert to No.5 and the new champion will be allowed to use No.1.

Red Bull
1. Sebastian Vettel (will use No.5 when not reigning champion)
3. Daniel Ricciardo

Mercedes

44. Lewis Hamilton
6. Nico Rosberg

Ferrari
14. Fernando Alonso
7. Kimi Raikkonen

Lotus
8. Romain Grosjean
13. Pastor Maldonado

McLaren
22. Jenson Button
20. Kevin Magnussen

Force India
27. Nico Hulkenberg
11. Sergio Perez

Sauber
99. Adrian Sutil
21. Esteban Gutierrez

Toro Rosso
25. Jean Eric Vergne
26. Daniel Kvyat

Williams
19. Felipe Massa
77. Valtteri Bottas

Marussia
17. Jules Bianchi
TBC Max Chilton

Caterham
Both drivers to be confirmed

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

[wisepie]

So Nico Hulkenberg has the revered no 27, is that an omen as to his future destination? And to see Felipe's name beside the Willams just doesn't seem right!

[brembo man]

I can't help it but I wll only be thinking of where each driver finished last year as his real number. Even if I keep a list so after each race I can compare how they stand. Esp watching the # 1 guy and hoping he moves down. You are so right wisepie, it's almost a tragedy to me , Felipe with Williams. I have to move on. It's a done deal.

[Kyss4k]

I am looking forward to how will they be sorted at the beginning of sessios. Will it be by their nubers, or some hidden ID, based on how they and the team finished last season (as it was until now)? To be honest, I don't like how it is in MotoGP (and other series), where they start the session on possition based on their number. It seems unfair and it's not really "user friendly".

[F2008]

I'm not to happy about giving away Gilles' number permanently, independent of the driver who got it allocated.

[Hornet]

I'm not to happy about giving away Gilles' number permanently, independent of the driver who got it allocated.

To be fair, the fans of other past drivers would claim the same too, and current driver's fans will want to keep their number too. Everyone will want a number to be reserved and the system will be pointless.

[F2008]

To be fair, the fans of other past drivers would claim the same too, and current driver's fans will want to keep their number too. Everyone will want a number to be reserved and the system will be pointless.

#27 is not just an ordinary number, it is F1's most iconic number. The first driver to use it was Jacky Ickx in a Ferrari in 1970. After Gilles' heroics and death in the #27 Ferrari, the team kept the number for many years until 1995, with the expection of 1990 when Ferrari signed reigning world champion Prost. In fact it was Senna who carried the number in 1990 and won the championship that year. Since 1996 it has not been used by any driver in F1.

Until 2014, when some ordinary driver will carry on the legacy.

[Greig]

It stopped being used due to the new rules to number the cars, I don't really think the number 27 holds any sort of legacy.

[Tobes]

It stopped being used due to the new rules to number the cars, I don't really think the number 27 holds any sort of legacy.

Really mate..?

You don't mean that..?

On the basis your PSN ID and Xbox Live ID are both Ferrari27, that surprises me...

Edit... I do think to every F1 fan #27 is synonymous with Ferrari because of Gilles...

[SS454]

honestly i prefer the pre 2014 number system. I just hope the champion always runs #1 as I think its an honor to carry the #1 on your car.

[stefa]

My opinion: THIS IS STUPID!

[Greig]

Really mate..?

You don't mean that..?

On the basis your PSN ID and Xbox Live ID are both Ferrari27, that surprises me...

Edit... I do think to every F1 fan #27 is synonymous with Ferrari because of Gilles...

Yeah the 27 means something to me, but I don't think it's crude or outrageous that someone else uses it or some sort of insult towards Gilles.

[Tobes]

Yeah the 27 means something to me, but I don't think it's crude or outrageous that someone else uses it or some sort of insult towards Gilles.

Agree with that, there is certainly nothing disrespectful about Hulkenberg using it, and I've no doubt he is fully aware of, and appreciates the significance of #27 in F1, and i'd guess that possibly had something to do with his choice, but ultimately it is merely two digits that make a number...

[Rob]

Agree with that, there is certainly nothing disrespectful about Hulkenberg using it, and I've no doubt he is fully aware of, and appreciates the significance of #27 in F1, and i'd guess that possibly had something to do with his choice, but ultimately it is merely two digits that make a number...

Also, he he joins us in few years the #27 will back on on a Ferrari, where it belongs.

[Petronius]

My opinion: THIS IS STUPID!

Stupid or not, it will be the case. Studying a little bit behind the numbers, they could tell us stories

Fernando already explained why #14 was his choice. Explanation did make sense to me. Excellent choice.

Kimi's # 7 is half off Fernando's number #14, let's hope he will be more than half compared to his team mate on track

However, #7 has significant symbolism in it. Seven days it took to create the universe, seven days there are in a week, seven years it takes for an individual to renew chemically, seven years since Kimi came first time to Ferrari, seventh day is race day. Dan Brown could tell more.

[leygan]

...and 7 vodka shots before Kimi gets drunk

[radosav]

Stupid or not, it will be the case. Studying a little bit behind the numbers, they could tell us stories

Fernando already explained why #14 was his choice. Explanation did make sense to me. Excellent choice.

Kimi's # 7 is half off Fernando's number #14, let's hope he will be more than half compared to his team mate on track

However, #7 has significant symbolism in it. Seven days it took to create the universe, seven days there are in a week, seven years it takes for an individual to renew chemically, seven years since Kimi came first time to Ferrari, seventh day is race day. Dan Brown could tell more.

Not to mention Snow white and seven dwarfs, we know that there is lot of snow in Finland , plus seven apostles , if we don't count those five others

[Nero Horse]

...and 7 vodka shots before Kimi gets drunk

Looks like you're waaay underestimating Kimi. I think 7 shots of vodka wouldn't be enough to get him even half drunk. 7 bottles, maybe then something happens...

[mark p]

27 is my favourite number but i would rather have number 1 on a ferrari as it means they are champions. Gilles used 12 more than 27, only had 27 for a year. I would think 27 and 1 would be perfect.

[Katu]

Not to mention Snow white and seven dwarfs, we know that there is lot of snow in Finland , plus seven apostles , if we don't count those five others

that is too good

[Ed Harley]

“There’s no particular story linked to it,” the Finn told www.ferrari.com. “It’s the number I already had last year and I saw no reason to change it. I like it which is good enough isn’t it?”

[AfterLife]

... but ultimately it is merely two digits that make a number...

That's it. Well said

[killer]

My opinion: THIS IS STUPID!

I don't think it is--on face value. What would be stupid is for them to go through this new numbering system and then have car numbers so small no one can see them.

[FFFerrari]

Max Chilton has chosen number 4. Source: his twitter. M4X. Never would have guessed