The history of race numbers in Formula 1 - Chain Bear explains

[@ouonouanwilfried-desire7758]

Only Chain bear can make a 10 minutes video about car number, and make it really interesting

[@pilotofjet]

So Lastname can't choose 420 ?

[@ibrahimaamir1470]

He chose 69

[@ibrahimaamir1470]

@@starigniter2308 I see you don't know what memes are then

[@ST-qh1td]

The last number of australia will have number 1 because its the first on calender

[@roryforham]

no one chose 69 shame on the whole grid no one wants to be juvenile silliest thing ive ever heard

[@Uninfluenceable]

Nicky Hayden was number 69, may he RIP

[@yoshiboy6198]

@@Uninfluenceable Should be mentioned he was a motoGP rider not an F1 driver

[@jasonfleischer3622]

The late James Hunt would have gone for 69 imo

[@samu10k91]

as the meme lord that he is, Lando could probably take 69 next year 😜😝

[@iViking90]

I'd go with 69, as it is the same number even when upside-down.

[@BloodyRedSquadron]

Not to be that guy, but you did say 39 doesn't go down well in Afganistan, and then mentioned Baku? I'm asusming you mean Azerbaijan hahah

[@flyhighpizzapie]

@@alexburton9823 But Baku has nothing to do with Afghanistan.

[@jsquared1013]

@@alexburton9823 Afghanistan (capital Kabul) and Azerbaijan (capital Baku) are different countries.

[@jsquared1013]

@@alexburton9823 it'll happen 😂. I just recently got a basic percentage ass-backwards in another video comment because I had the fraction flipped like a doofus 🙈

[@michaelcollins966]

I’m hoping he didn’t confuse Azerbaijan and Afghanistan, and mentioned it only because Afghanistan is relatively close to Baku

[@JasonGriffin]

Michael Collins they aren’t relatively close though, with nearly 2,000km between them. Italy, by contrast, is about 1,200km from England; so it’s the equivalent of him warning against the use of the unluckily Italian number at Silverstone (except Afghanistan and Azerbaijan are even farther apart).

[@jsquared1013]

OF COURSE Maldonado chose 13 😂

[@jamsbong]

So he can radiate the bad luck of 13 onto his competitors.

[@StrongOneX]

burst out laughing when I just now realised that. It makes perfect sense

[@PragmaticAntithesis]

Well he did make his own bad luck!

[@DCTag]

I've never laughed so hard. 😂

[@davidvasquez08]

This makes sense now 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 I see what Maldonado was doing there he was trying to the nightmare fuel racer until he left and taught what happens when you chose the #13

[@TheDStraits]

Max Verstappen actually used the number 38 when he had his practice drives in Japan and Brazil in 2014

[@timowilms8102]

So chainbear needs to support him👌

[@corbinselanne7990]

Who do you think might take it of the newcomers for 2019? Giovinazzi gets to pick his own number now, he ran 36 in two rounds of 2017 because he was subbing for an injured Pascal Wehrlein

[@Karlimoor]

@@corbinselanne7990 When Giovinazzi substituted in DTM for the suspended Timo Scheider in 2015, he used #93. Wouldn't be surprised if he took this number over to F1.

[@corbinselanne7990]

@Karlimoor you mean like Wehrlein did going the opposite way with #94 after being unable to find an F1 seat for 2018?

[@Karlimoor]

+Corbin Selanne I'm not entirely sure about what you're saying, but Wehrlein has been using #94 for quite some time now. First in DTM, then he took it with him to F1, and back to DTM.

[@TheRagingStorm98]

Pastor Maldanado chose 13 becomes Crashtor Maldanado now it all makes sense

[@luiscontreras2177]

It's because in Venezuela it's not considered unlucky in many sports Venezuelans choose 13 because most other people don't. It's part of there culture number 13 is always used by Venezuelan sports players.

[@CrowwreakStevenson]

You ever seen a crash compilation? That guy sucked just as bad in GP2

[@Jovi_97]

I like the current system

[@jellejelle1000]

Fun trivia: Verstappen chose 33 becasue 3 was unavailable, Sainz chose 55 because 5 was unavailable

[@Smart1529]

Daniel Ricciardo got Number 3 instead and Sebastian Vettel got Number 5

[@aslamnurfikri7640]

In 2014 fp1 sessions verstappen used 38 though

[@orsomethingorno]

Aaron Slight ran 111 in Superbikes because 1 and 11 were taken

[@andhika8430]

Reserve car/driver number is assigned to teams

[@lucadido6864]

Umbraine Didn’t Leclerc chose 16 because it’s his birthday date?

[@t.mcgarry4]

*immediately does a career mode in f1 2018 using 38*

[@corbinselanne7990]

KepleroGT so far i've used 85 for my F1 2016 career mode driver and 91 for a female driver i'm using in my F1 2017 career mode

[@reissespuffs3504]

That’s exactly what I did

[@EmSpro]

Hulkenberg stole my 27 so had to choose 98 instead

[@mikloslipcsey7923]

The car numbers of drivers that perished since 1970 - car number (driver, track, when in the event): 4 (Piers Courage, Zandvoort, race); 22 (Jochen Rindt, Monza, qualifying); 14 (Roger Williamson, Zandvoort, race); 6 (Francois Cevert, Watkins Glen, qualifying); 16 (Peter Revson, Kyalami, qualifying); 19 (Helmut Koinigg, Watkins Glen, race); 28 (Mark Donohue, Õsterreichring, qualifying); 16 (Tom Pryce, Kyalami, race); 6 (Ronnie Peterson, Monza, race); 22 (Patrick Depailler, Hockenheimring, practice); 27 (Gilles Villeneuve, Zolder, qualifying); 32 (Riccardo Paletti, Montreal, race); 8 (Elio de Angelis, Paul Ricard, practice); 32 (Roland Ratzenberger, Imola, qualifying); 2 (Ayrton Senna, Imola, race); 17 (Jules Bianchi, Suzuka, race).

[@ODDinaryPerson]

Rip

[@DavidNatanael]

Before 2009, similar things happened in 2002 where Prost team withdrew from 2002 season and their supposed-to-be car numbers (20 and 21) left blank, with Minardi took the number 22 and 23, and new entrant Toyota took 24 and 25

[@Yosef_Marks]

Why nobody executes Order 66?

[@Indy1977TX]

I always wondered about the randomness of historical F1 numbers. I appreciate the explanations!

[@daniel4726]

17 unlucky in Italy ? And Bianchi was about to go to Ferrari =(((((((

[@NicholasTheKing]

Interestingly, it was considered unlucky by Romans because XVII (17) is anagram of VIXI, which means, "I lived".

[@naglisbaranauskas5617]

Well Bianchi didn't do that... (No hate just a joke)

[@NicholasTheKing]

@@naglisbaranauskas5617 "I lived" as in "I'm now dead". So, well... he did exactly that. :(

[@bandithimself6841]

Roberto holy shit

[@Millixxxxxx]

@@bandithimself6841 this gave me goosebumps... so sad

[@michaelm5149]

My new goal in life is to become a formula driver and bare the number 38 all for daddy Chain Bear.

[@RIPjohnbonham]

This video is conveniently timed, I was just thinking about this on the weekend. I was trying to remember how it was done in the late 90s/early 2000s. Thanks Chain Bear!

[@j.j.schlachtfeld9325]

Last time I checked Baku was in Azerbaijan, not in Afghanistan 😅

[@davidmoore1253]

I noticed the strange car numbering in Geoff Crammond's Grand Prix 2, which was based on the 1994 season. I always wondered why Tyrrell had 3 and 4 while Ferrari had 27 and 28.

[@tintintonker1105]

I love how you show maldonardo mid way through crash using the number 13 : )

[@dmfxfischer]

Whomever Chain Bear is, these videos are really fantastic.

[@samoksner]

THIS GUY made race numbers interesting! WELL DONE!!

[@DPG-Guitar]

Another fact regarding #1, in 1974 Ronnie Peterson carried the number for the entire season even though he wasn't the reigning champion. Lotus, having 1 & 2 as reigning Constructors champions, chose to give #1 to Ronnie. In the 1985 European GP at Brands Hatch John Watson deputised for an injured Niki Lauda and ran his #1 in that race.

[@iancanuckistan2244]

There was a motion put forward to the FIA by a huge number of Canadian Gilles Villeneuve fans to retire his number after his death. It's traditional in hockey to retire exceptional players numbers when they retire. The FIA Didn't want any part in it. I'm glad they've changed their thinking.

[@therealjuralumin3416]

My personal racing number is 56, I use it in honour of my favourite MotoGP rider Norifumi “Norick” Abe, who used the #56 on his debut as a wildcard at Suzuka in 1994, riding a “Mr Donut” liveried bike! Still to this day my absolute favourite race. Abe went on to race with the number 17 (like Bianchi) and sadly lost his life in a traffic accident. I wonder if 17 is cursed!?

[@redluca56]

Here's some F1 number trivia. Bianchi never initially selected 17 when the FIA asked for three numbers, he picked 7, 27 and 77, but since Räikkönen, Hülkenberg and Bottas finished ahead of him in the driver's championship, they got those numbers and Bianchi had to think of a new number.

[@ciszawlesie]

I wonder wich number will Kubica get in 2019...

[@Matthew-ne7qb]

Totalgamer Tb21 would make sense. He raced with #4 in 2008 and Giovanazzi loves #99

[@atmoz_]

@@env8828 Maybe Giovinazzi will take his temporary formula 1 number (36)

[@peti010218]

I would be happy if Giovinazzi choose number 36 since it's my favorite

[@jabrown]

@@Matthew-ne7qb Giovinazzi would be the 2nd Sauber driver to use 99, after Sutil… By the way, I notice a trend with drivers who have double letters in their name choosing multiples of 11: Jenson Bu22on Max Versta33en Carlo55ainz Val77eri Bo77as Antonio Giovina99i (?) Sergio Pérez, Lewis Hamilton and Adrian Sutil bucked this trend.

[@TheSt1092]

@@env8828 4 and 99 were actually last used in 2014 by Max Chilton (remember him?) and Adrian Sutil so those numbers are now available . Numbers won't be confirmed until the official FIA F1 entry list for 2019 is published

[@osirisgolad]

"Probably in case the stewards think Adrian Sutil is flipped upside down" 😂

[@corbinselanne7990]

Funny thing, Mario Lemieux used 66 in tribute to the 99 of Wayne Gretzky

[@jacklawton2389]

Or Antonio Giovinazzi flipping next year in that 99 sauber

[@andycopping7220]

Chain bear, you have smashed it again, great video

[@armands3153]

Well, Number 17 after 2015 brings me sadness...

[@armands3153]

Also my name name has nothing to do with Jules. It's a coincidence.

[@Thumbsupurbum]

It's my favorite number, and it bugs me I can't use it in F1 games anymore. As it's not available even in the games. Oh well, 69 will have to suffice.

[@armands3153]

@@Thumbsupurbum Exactly the same for me (except that 69 bit). Play F1 2013 once in a while to drive a Williams #17. :)

[@mlg_420quickscope]

Armands 17 Ecplain to me pls

[@armands3153]

@@mlg_420quickscope Bianchi.

[@VC27]

I had often wondered about this. Thanks for clearing it up.

[@roberthorwood4276]

another great well explained video Chain Be thank you n well done, more please :-)

[@BiggestNightmareJim]

Hell yes welcoming the number 38, Yuki Tsunoda! I wrote here before that 38 for some reason is also my favorite number and now we are getting the legendary Yuki with number 38! hope he will have an amazing season. Now that I saw his number I remembered what you said about 38 so I just had to come back here and comment Yuki 2021!

[@vincent3165]

Great job. You should do an explain video about rain light and various significance

[@jasonbattermann9982]

I love the sentiment at the end.

[@jonathanvogt2]

Another excellent video explaining something I thought I already knew a lot about, but sooo didn't :))

[@Samiqmojo]

I never knew I was interested in this. Great job as usual. You should teach

[@lucasxxl4692]

9:10 thats great cuz its my fav number

[@Marcony-R2D2]

I'd choose #74 in memory of one of my most favourite MotoGP hero Daijiro Kato

[@thegaslightneverends]

i like the current system because it's cool marketing for the drivers when they have their number on their caps, shirts etc looks cool

[@alecvanv]

What is wrong with the number 15?

[@neon5452]

Alec van veen yeah ikr that’s my favourite number

[@okidoki878]

Het is geen 33

[@pantherseven4056]

Just making a guess (and was listening and watching the video), but probably because in the past it was used as a backup number. And you don't want the backup number. And it is still used as a backup number, so...

[@chiggawaffle04]

Panther Seven I’ve noticed that #15 has only been used by Redbull since 2014

[@GarrettOHara]

Michael Waltrip? :P

[@Roi8Arachnide]

17 unlucky in Italy because VIXI is VI + XI = 6 + 11 = 17 and "vixi" means "i lived" in latin ... poor bianchi

[@Annur375]

Great trivia! Thanks for sharing.

[@bogdanbusui5249]

Looks like Yuki will be your favourite driver next year😉 In his practice with Alpha Tauri he had this number on 3️⃣8️⃣

[@Ibol406]

He chose 22

[@bogdanbusui5249]

@@Ibol406 I realised that a few months after the comment

[@xaviercharles9616]

39, afghanistan, baku? azerbaidjan right?

[@DragorElite]

Why doesn't anyone pick 15? That's one of my favorite numbers

[@emill910]

It's been reserved for your F1 debut.

[@duffyycuffyy3612]

emill910 LMAO 😂

[@neon5452]

DragorElite same mate I don’t get it

[@DragorElite]

@@emill910 I knew my day would come!

[@pantherseven4056]

Just making a guess (and was listening and watching the video), but probably because in the past it was used as a backup number. And you don't want the backup number. And it is still used as a backup number, so...

[@davidvasquez08]

I remember reading an article about Pastor Maldonado taking the number 38

[@DDS029]

When I raced locally in the 70's and, 80's my first number of choice was 929, for Sept. 29, my girlfriend's birthday. Break up, 029. Someone else had 29. Next year got 29. Wife felt 29 was still too close to 929, next year it was 9. Changed classes, had use 10. Best friend ran 10, in another class, and 01 was my favorite driver as a kid. Next season got the 9 back and finished my career with it. So imagine what it's like to try and keep everyone happy.

[@DDS029]

When I used to hand letter race cars, you would think the most popular number would be 01 to 10, or double digits like 11, 22, 33, etc. Nope. Local weekly racing in "my area", four tracks that had about 3-5 classes each, touring series cars based in my area, midgets, sprint cars, ¼ midgets, karts, ARCA Stock Cars, NASCAR Stock Cars, even the occasional R/C car. The number used most often was . . .drum roll, please . . . 54! Yes, 54. Who chooses 54 for their WHOLE CAREER??? 😵😨😵😨🏁

[@NonUser881]

2017 was the last year with the 18 & 19 for Williams 18. Lance Stroll 19. Felipe Massa

[@dankyf1579]

7:15 Stroll (18) and Massa (19) in 2017?

[@crusherbmx]

AWESOME!! I was looking for this info back in 2014 when they changed the system, but I couldn't find a single source that explained it well, so I had to figure it out for the most part...and that was annoying as hell!

[@BlaizeV]

I loved this video. My first choice would have been 14. Though 15 would be cool too.

[@deanwicakson384]

Sean Gelael use number 38 actually while doing test drive for Toro Rosso this year

[@haryosoo]

1974-1995 era's numbering rule seems like nascar's/indycar's with a bit of twist. And now we have MotoGP style numbering rule

[@thefinalflashback]

Back here after Yuki took on 22, Jenson's little ducks. Smashed the testing leaderboard with P2, hoping that he can get some good race results

[@FORZAPOTENZA]

I thought one race cameos didn't affect whether a number was available Also, if a drivers first preference became available, could they return to using their first preference?

[@nicholass3964]

Well done. I’ve often wondered.

[@aleksej79novosibirsk]

Very nice, thank You!

[@joribremer5260]

I have a question ? If 2 new drivers coming into formula 1 , the 1st one that got announced will get 1st choice right ? like he wants 46, 23 , 88 , but if like an big sportsman from another sport joins in 2 weeks later ) like Valentino Rossi gets a seat (and ofcourse 46 is his 1st choice ) what will happen then ?? (for example ?

[@rahulravishankar3152]

For the second question- Is it 2017 when Stroll (rookie) chose 18 and Massa (retiring) has 19?

[@flankerpang]

Jules's number 17 was actually his fourth choice, if I remember correctly. I remember seeing a tweet from him choosing 7, 27 and 77 as his preferences, which as it turns out, were all taken. *sigh 😥

[@KevinShockey]

Great job, how about Indy numbers? Almost all the drivers run the 1 if they can, like Newgarden.

[@VictorFAmaya]

For the record, in Venezuela, the #13 is not considered "unlucky". The main sport in the country is baseball, and the greatest athletes that made it all the way to Major League Baseball in the US, like Dave Concepcion, Omar Vizquel, Ozzie Guillén etc., all wore #13. Pastor would've become Crashtor regardless of the number assigned to him lol

[@andremonteiro1643]

I like this guy a lot

[@Clipsofracing]

I use number 15 on the f1 game so I’m not complaining

[@Saturn185]

just a question, if the number 4 is unlucky in japan why was that number given to sato in 2005?

[@Saturn185]

@@starigniter2308 he did race all season long with the number 4, that was my point

[@Saturn185]

@@starigniter2308 they should´ve given sato the number 3 and button the number 4 like what tyrell did to katayama for example (and im talking about the entire season not just at suzuka)

[@Saturn185]

@@starigniter2308 actually i'm not sure myself... if there is anyone with knowledge of japonese culture that could say if japonese people tend to be superstitous or not it would be apreciated

[@aditya.sagraha]

BAR finished 2nd in WCC 2004, with Button scoring most of the points I guess BAR forgot about the #4 being unlucky in Japanese culture

[@draconicdusk5911]

Very interesting video!

[@joshgardiner7511]

Anyone notice the number 12 in the background?

[@brunoviananascimento]

Felipe Nasr was the last to use Senna's most used number (seasons 1985 to 1988).

[@grumpierlion2217]

Verstappen used the number 38 in the 2014 practise sessions in Japan and Brazil. As it was a reserve number of Toro Rosso.

[@DoctorHver]

If was entering F1 I would tell FIA that I would drive 1 until the rest of my career I did be combination of Schumacher and Fangio. For the first season they did have to give me 0 as a number.

[@TheJokerit19]

My F1 2018 career mode/player number is 87, which goes all the way back to F1 2016. I would've liked to take either 19 or 88, but resorted to 87 as both of them were reserved at the time. For F1 2017, I could've chosen 88, but decided to keep 87. BTW, just in case if anyone's wondering or might ask: The reason for 87 is because it's the number of one Canadian Ice Hockey player same with 19 while 88 is the number of one American also hockey player, so they're mostly hockey-related reasons.

[@corbinselanne7990]

You picked 87 for Sidney Crosby of the Penguins, then. I might do an F1 2018 career mode with Palmer's old number 30 for Martin Brodeur, or use another of my F1 2017 driver slots to use Maxim Afinogenov's 61

[@TheJokerit19]

@@corbinselanne7990 Yes indeed. Originally, I wanted 88 back when I chose my race number for F1 2016 (because of Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks), but since both it, as well as, 19 (Jonathan Toews the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks) were reserved at the time, I had to resort to something else, and eventually went for 87, and it's been following me ever since leading to me choosing it for F1 2017 and 2018 as well, and probably will go for it in F1 2019 as well.

[@corbinselanne7990]

So you're a Blackhawks fan, then. My two primary teams are New Jersey (Brodeur's longest-tenured team) and the Buffalo Sabres (Afinogenov's longest-tenured); if it wasn't for Stroll i'd use 18 as a tribute to Peyton Manning (who spent most of his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts), Ocon has 31 (my favorite baseball team is the New York Mets, who've retired 31 for Mike Piazza), and Rio Haryanto (plus Kubica) had taken 88, my friend Chucky's favorite NASCAR driver Dale Jr's Hendrick number (Junior used Grosjean's 8 when racing with his dad's team before the move to Hendrick).

[@TheJokerit19]

@@corbinselanne7990 Yes, Penguins and Blackhawks are my two primary favorite NHL-teams, and behind them, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens (although a Stanley Cup title for any Canadian team would be more than welcome as it's been almost 26 years since the last time a Canadian team won the cup), Minnesota Wild, and Anaheim Ducks come as lesser-favorites, but Penguins and Blackhawks have been, and remained as my primary-favorites for quite some time already, although the latter sucks at present for some reason for the second regular-season in a row now, LOL.

[@mahiru20ten]

Maybe the next ruling would be having the team to choose the number, like what nascar did. And 1 is alright too for the team to take, even when they're not the champion.

[@matthiascerebri3315]

Two questions: What if someone wants to drop his number because of- superstition or numerology or anything like that? Is that allowed? An dlet us assume all 99 Numbers would have been used (I wonder if No. 0 is also still possible). Couldn´ i I say: 100 to 200?

[@jatinmilani7128]

Hey can you please make a video explaining why is it important for the driver to if there's a tail or a head wind wind in certain corners.

[@jatinmilani7128]

To know*

[@shannonsilva2091]

It’s insane that number 17 is considered unlucky because it the same number Jules Bianchi had and he was the last person to die in F1. RIP

[@sentientraptor]

9:55 Oliver Bearman used the number 38 when he drove for ferrari in saudi arabia this year jfi

[@raymondchujr1227]

hello i time traveled fron 2022 to know that as the new reigning world champion, max verstappen chose to run the number 1 this year

[@yugopriono7152]

If i'm a driver,i would choose number 4 but,who the last driver choose pick the number?

[@jmgaming6148]

Max Chilton was the last to pick #4 in 2014 when he drove for Marussia F1 Team. He didn't complete the whole season with it tho, because Marussia pulled out of F1 after Jules Bianchi's crash in Japan.

[@yugopriono7152]

@@jmgaming6148 thanks for the information

[@indranigomes9874]

Lando Norris has chosen it.

[@EIC2299]

I feel like chain bear goes out of the way and explains some things that dont need to be, makes sense out of it, and makes it interesting.

[@AlexaMG35]

35 is my favourite number, but as that's taken by Sirotkin, I'll settle for 38 too :P reason for 35 is that its the sum of all of the individual numbers in my birthdate. Reason for 38 is that the team who run the #38 car at Le Mans are only 15 minutes away from my hometown #Mighty38

[@xavierandradev]

I don't think it makes sense to give numbers to the cars anymore. Each car should have the 3 initials of the driver, as used on the time boards. It will make the driver much easier to identify.

[@GregBrownsWorldORacing]

I vote for both 3 letters obvious but keep the numbers also.

[@MRDK6969]

@@user-zv8qg1co4z If you go back and look at the first race in Australia 2018, then you will see that it was only Haas that had it on there two cars, 8 GRO & 20 MAG, but there are thankfully other teams who have taken the idea to heart, because it's works for all of us who only can see the race in the telly 😉 😊😊

[@DapperDill]

We should get Chain Bear to explain Formula 1.5

[@KingofFray]

Is number 0 and 00 available? If i am a newly signed F1 driver i want to take number 0 and 00 as permanent driver number

[@mercsmate7787]

ohhh now i get it The number causes Pastor crashdonado

[@iiwynnyii]

My favourite geek on you tube

[@RechargingBatteries]

15 would be what I use, works into my name nicely. Louis > Lou15

[@oh.Em1ly]

This is very cool and interesting, my number would be #3

[@AndreSomers]

I'd gone for 60 (dividable by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12,15, 20 and 30) or 97 (highest prime within the range).

[@Yosef_Marks]

When Ocon chose number 31 I patiently waited for the day it was free again. Now that time has come. He's not a bad driver, but he chose the wrong person's number.

[@AidanMillward]

Ocon's number won't be free until 2021

[@Pikaling3408]

@@AidanMillward well 2023 at the earliest now

[@jonny46ba]

Loris Reggiani used 13, because 13 is actually lucky in Italy My fave numbers 7,27,46,35,58,65,69, and 93. not in order of preference... Bike fans will know what I'm saying.....BTW 69 is a fave twice.. Nicky and Jamie. ... actually make that 3 times! Fun fact.. I heard Jamie Whitam say that he chose 69 because he was a bit of a crasher and 69 would look the same whichever up the bike was at the time.

[@maxafc4695]

Can a driver choose to change their number if one becomes available 2 years after someone has left?

[@maxafc4695]

@SirPaz no what I mean is. Say Lando Norris wanted to be number 7, but couldn't because Kimi was. If Kimi retires, after his number becomes available, can he be like, I want that number 7 now it is available?

[@Fluggegecheimen69]

It's never come up before but there's no good reason to disallow it.

[@flankerpang]

I think current rules say the drivers have their numbers for their entire career. So unless the FIA changes the rule, I'd be inclined to say drivers are stuck with their second/third/whatever preferences.

[@RadeticDaniel]

​@@maxafc4695 , as SirPaz pointed and ChainBear tells in the video, driver numbers are fixed for the entire carrer, unless the driver stays away for 2 entire seasons. So a driver wanting to change numbers would have to take a leave for 2 seasons without joining even a single F1 race. Special attention to the fact it is measured in seasons and not years. That means if Alonso had stop racing during 2018`s summer break, he still would only be eligible for a new number in the 2021 season, as he participated in 2018 and would get the same number back if joining even a single race in either 2019 or 2020. These details are a bit to complex, maybe, but it is what we`ve got now = )

[@rajpapineni5504]

great vid

[@woodedco]

Yamamoto is the king, chain bears favourite driver! For 90 minutes...

[@Lintary]

The fact that none of them picked 42 the answer to life, the universe and everything is mightily disappointing to me. I make a note here the driver who picks this number will have my support.

[@indranigomes9874]

Kimi took 7 because he couldn't be bothered to change from 2013. Both Bottas and Bianchi wanted that number hence they were 77 and 17. Bianchi also wanted 77. That's just classic Kimi.

[@Pikaling3408]

Number 27 is available again in 2023 not 2022 as a result of Hulkenberg making a cameo appearance in Silverstone 2020

[@MrBlazemaster525]

TIL the Bianchi thing. I still miss that guy.

[@Karlimoor]

While I think it's not bad to have consistent race numbers now, I don't like the idea of assigning them to the drivers. I much prefer the system used in Australian Supercars, where the numbers are permanent for the entries, regardless of the driver.

[@AlexTheG71]

Well, if you say 38 is your favourite number, I couldn't have made a better choice... my favourite number is 16 xD

[@jabrown]

Funny that 15 was also the highest number missing in the original, 1970s numbering system. By the way, why is 38 your favourite number?