F1 Numbers

**Sonic** · 30th June 2009, 13:23

Originally Posted by cynisca

And why have not been given the number 13?

And soooo superstitious are we that most tracks don't have a garage 13. And if you qualify 13th on the grid when you go to the holding area to form up you'll most likely find yourself in position 12A. Stupid!

**philipbain** · 25th July 2009, 23:08

Originally Posted by cynisca

Great inside in that part of Formula One's history, but why is nobody talking about the number 0. The last driver who got the number 0 has been Damon Hill in 1992, I think.

Damon Hill ran 0 on his car in 1993 and 1994 due to the fact that the champions from both the 1992 and 1993 did not defend thier titles, the 1992 title was won by Mansell who went off to Indycar after he found out how much they were willing to pay and the 1993 title was won by Alain Prost in his final year before retiring.

**inimitablestoo** · 26th July 2009, 07:55

And that itself has been a modern interpretation of the system: back in 1974, the first full year of season-long numbers, reigning champion Jackie Stewart was absent, so the reigning constructors' champions, Lotus, took the numbers 1 and 2. Thus Ronnie Peterson had the number 1, despite never winning the World Championship that many felt he would surely have done at some point.

**D-Type** · 27th July 2009, 21:35

At one time in some countries itwas customary to only use even numbers, thus avoiding unlucky numbers 13 and 17 (unlucky in Italy I think).

Then no 4 is 'unlucky' in China and Japan. So although he was Tyrrell no 2 driver in 1990, Nakajima was given no 3 instead of no 4.

And as for the Belgians... in the fifties they changed the numbers between practice and the race to foil printers of pirate programmes.