F1 Considers Permanent Driver Numbers.

[vintly]

With all the problems that F1 is currently facing (teams on the verge of bankrupcy, the ring master under threat of prison due to fraud, single car dominance, tyres that fall apart after 10 laps, etc.) why on earth are they worrying about the numbers????
And I respect Vintly's opinion but next year half the driver line up will either be unknown or with new teams so we will all be guessing who is who!

Even if most teams bailed out, Bernie went to prison and it was decided that the world was indeed flat, individual driver numbers are a potential boost for the popularity of the sport, the spectator experience and the overall marketability. It's about the drivers. I don't see anyone 'worrying' about the numbers either - it's just an idea that's been mooted, a decent one in my view that doesn't interfere with anything else in the sport.

As for who's who, there were five rookies in 2013, there'll only be two or three in 2014 I think, so unknown drivers isn't a problem. Numbers for drivers will only serve to make them more recognisable anyway.

I struggle to find anything bad about this idea so will argue the case for it until I'm convinced otherwise. Also quite interested - if it does go ahead - to see who chooses what number and why. I've always had a thing about the number 19 myself….

[Scott]

With all the problems that F1 is currently facing (teams on the verge of bankrupcy, the ring master under threat of prison due to fraud, single car dominance, tyres that fall apart after 10 laps, etc.) why on earth are they worrying about the numbers????
And I respect Vintly's opinion but next year half the driver line up will either be unknown or with new teams so we will all be guessing who is who!

Even if most teams bailed out, Bernie went to prison and it was decided that the world was indeed flat, individual driver numbers are a potential boost for the popularity of the sport, the spectator experience and the overall marketability. It's about the drivers. I don't see anyone 'worrying' about the numbers either - it's just an idea that's been mooted, a decent one in my view that doesn't interfere with anything else in the sport.

As for who's who, there were five rookies in 2013, there'll only be two or three in 2014 I think, so unknown drivers isn't a problem. Numbers for drivers will only serve to make them more recognisable anyway.

I struggle to find anything bad about this idea so will argue the case for it until I'm convinced otherwise. Also quite interested - if it does go ahead - to see who chooses what number and why. I've always had a thing about the number 19 myself….

    33 piques my interest

[Ian]

I rather like 69.

[Dare]

With the teams money problems soon there  may be so few teams that
keeping track of the drivers won't be all that hard

[cosworth151]

Why restrict them to 2 digit numbers. I can think of some fine three digit numbers. 

[F1fanaticBD]

I rather like 69.

We are talking about driver's number Ian, not your preferable positions

[Ian]

So was I BD, don't know what you're alluding to. 

[Monty]

99 please stop ignoring the black flags........ sorry 66 you seem to have a problem!

[Jericoke]

99 please stop ignoring the black flags........ sorry 66 you seem to have a problem!

 

[Jericoke]

I like the idea of individual numbers.

It IS like other sports, where there's a way to quickly identify who's who, and yet it's distinct from other sports where the DRIVER 'owns' the number, not the team.

It will make things easier for fans each season there's musical chairs.  It will make things easier for the commentators.  I don't blame them for getting everything wrong the first few races of the year, there's no way to tell who's in what car without resorting to memory.  But once you know that Kimi is 33, you know the 33 is Kimi.

[Irisado]

I'm not a fan of this idea.  The pre-1996 numbering system was very difficult to understand, and that revolved around teams generally keeping to certain traditional numbers for no clear reason.  The 1996 to present system is much better.  Just leave it as it is.

[Scott]

What is there to understand?  Kimi = 33, Grossjean = 19, Alonso = 06...number simply indicates a drivers name, but just shorter to put on the car than RAIKKONEN. 

[Jericoke]

What is there to understand?  Kimi = 33, Grossjean = 19, Alonso = 06...number simply indicates a drivers name, but just shorter to put on the car than RAIKKONEN. 

Could put the three character FIA code on the cars... RAI, GRO, ALO...

but I like numbers better.  Classic part of motorsport.  I don't know why F1 cars hide the numbers so much.

[John S]

Well all right if we must have permanent drivers numbers can we have them painted in nice big and bold on the top of their skidlids, as well as anywhere else, so that we instantly know who is which - if you see what I mean - when they use the forward facing camera behind the drivers heads.
Too many changes in designs and colours on helmets is for me a bigger issue than numbers,
- but hey lets sort one with the other. 

[J.Clark]

If it works, don't fix it.  There really is nothing more to say about this ridiculous idea.