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[Cubejam]

Jean Todt says it's too hard for fans to identify drivers. The car number is visble on the side & nose of the cars, but at distance they aren't visable. So most fans use the coloured cameras to figure out who the driver is. The first driver in a team gets a red camera & the second gets a yellow one. Failing that, fans can identify drivers using their helmets. E.g. Schumacher has a bright red helmet whereas Rosberg has a yellow one.

Of course, this means you have to remember who is #1 or #2 & who wears which helmet. Not hard for hardcore fans like us, but what about the fans that aren't so hardcore?

Currently drivers race under the numbers set from the previous years championship order. For Example, Red Bull won the championship, so they get #1 & #2, McLaren were second so they get #3 & #4.

The world Champion always gets #1, so when Jenson Button won his championship at Brawn he was able to bring #1 & #2 to McLaren while Brawn, who later changed into Mercedes had to take #3 & #4.


Jean todt is proposing that Formula 1 switch from this method, where the championship position dictates who gets what number & proposes F1 change liek other motorsports. NASCAR, MotoGP & WRC are examples where a driver chooses his own number.

For example: Valentino Rossi, the legendary MotoGP rider is of course #46 while Jorge Lorenzo has always been #99. If that driver wins the championship he can decide whether he races as his own number, or as #1. This year Lorenzo will race with a #1 on his bike as he is champion.

"Like in NASCAR, a driver who is arriving in Formula 1, he gets a number. He would keep it for all of his career. You could identify a driver with a number. At the moment, you don't find the number, you don't find the name."

For this to happen todt would need the majority of the formula 1 teams to agree.

"You need to have some strong ground for changing," the Frenchman added. "You need to have a minimum of positive opinion among the group in Formula 1. So far, unfortunately, they are not interested, they are quite happy. It will come, it will change."

I think it is a great idea. It works for MotoGP, it will work for F1. If a driver wins the championship, he will be allowed to choose #1 if he wants.

[darwin dali]

Jean Todt says it's too hard for fans to identify drivers. The car number is visble on the side & nose of the cars, but at distance they aren't visable. So most fans use the coloured cameras to figure out who the driver is. The first driver in a team gets a red camera & the second gets a yellow one. Failing that, fans can identify drivers using their helmets. E.g. Schumacher has a bright red helmet whereas Rosberg has a yellow one.

Of course, this means you have to remember who is #1 or #2 & who wears which helmet. Not hard for hardcore fans like us, but what about the fans that aren't so hardcore?

Currently drivers race under the numbers set from the previous years championship order. For Example, Red Bull won the championship, so they get #1 & #2, McLaren were second so they get #3 & #4.

The world Champion always gets #1, so when Jenson Button won his championship at Brawn he was able to bring #1 & #2 to McLaren while Brawn, who later changed into Mercedes had to take #3 & #4.


Jean todt is proposing that Formula 1 switch from this method, where the championship position dictates who gets what number & proposes F1 change liek other motorsports. NASCAR, MotoGP & WRC are examples where a driver chooses his own number.

For example: Valentino Rossi, the legendary MotoGP rider is of course #46 while Jorge Lorenzo has always been #99. If that driver wins the championship he can decide whether he races as his own number, or as #1. This year Lorenzo will race with a #1 on his bike as he is champion.

"Like in NASCAR, a driver who is arriving in Formula 1, he gets a number. He would keep it for all of his career. You could identify a driver with a number. At the moment, you don't find the number, you don't find the name."

For this to happen todt would need the majority of the formula 1 teams to agree.

"You need to have some strong ground for changing," the Frenchman added. "You need to have a minimum of positive opinion among the group in Formula 1. So far, unfortunately, they are not interested, they are quite happy. It will come, it will change."

I think it is a great idea. It works for MotoGP, it will work for F1. If a driver wins the championship, he will be allowed to choose #1 if he wants.

Not sure this will fly with the teams (and even with the fans for that matter) - remember that F1 is also a team sport. Having drivers be identified by their own individualistic number would take away from the team sport aspect. But then again, it might change anyway.

[Cubejam]

Personally I think that drivers should have a bigger influence. Sure F1 is a team sport and the removal of the orders ban sure shows that, but the drivers should be able to pick their number just like their helmet design. Though those have to fit within the teams requirements too so... unlikely to float with the teams.

[scotty]

Go back to the old F1 system, there was nothing wrong with that at all.

I think the idea of the champ not having to have the number 1 is poor though.

[Jabberwocky]

If you think about it the numbers could then become part of the sponsorship..... 7up and 888 jumping to mind.... then again lets hope we do not end up with the men moustaches... or maybe Mansell could come back as 118 118 lol

[F1er]

I got dibs on "23" sending Todt email as we speak

It's a great Idea,the current # system is stupid and pointless.

[Jabberwocky]

fw:My Driver Number

Mr Toadt,

Please may I have number 69. Thanks I owe you one.

Much Love to Michelle and Nicolas.

Mr Jabberwocky Esq

[Robert12010]

If you think about it the numbers could then become part of the sponsorship..... 7up and 888 jumping to mind.... then again lets hope we do not end up with the men moustaches... or maybe Mansell could come back as 118 118 lol

, i think there is nothing wrong with the current system, i am able to identify all the drivers by their helmets no problems

[Jensonb]

I call dibs on 13.

[What's Burning?]

I call dibs on 13.

You've got to make it to F1 first...

Not sure this will fly with the teams (and even with the fans for that matter) - remember that F1 is also a team sport. Having drivers be identified by their own individualistic number would take away from the team sport aspect. But then again, it might change anyway.

It's not like teams are married to their numbers anyway since they change from year to year.

I'd be perfectly ok with drivers being associated with their own numbers... in NASCAR it's done wonders for merchandising. I think the only change should be that the reigning champion should be number 1. All others active drivers use their chosen numbers.

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

It's not as stupid as suggesting artificial rain but it's still bloody stupid.

The tradition of the distinctive "livery" comes to motor racing from the sport of horse racing, where the jockey (and therefore his horse) could be identified by his distinctively coloured clothing. Colours can be identified from a far greater distance than numerals of the same size could be read. In F1, it's the opposite, the driver is identified by his car's livery, at least whilst he's inside it. Until someone develops a transparent car, I'd reckon we're stuck with that.

[Jensonb]

I call dibs on 13.

You've got to make it to F1 first...

No I don't, I called dibs. And that's a sacred act.

[Jamie]

Good idea, A little like Moto Gp, In which the champ get #1 if they win the WDC. I like it.

[texasmr2]

I like te idea but I also like that the WDC wears the #1 but seeing as how we all know who finished where in the WDC a permanent number could help identify each driver alot easier. On another note I pay more attention to the drivers helmets since the numbers, atleast for me, are rather hard too pickout.

[Cubejam]

For me personally i have no problem, just like I have no problem identifying Rossi in MotoGP. But he is 46.

Take this as an example.... when a graphic comes up on screen & says "Cars 7 & 16 are being investigated" Who else has trouble working out who that is? I do. If drivers had their own numbers, and kept them for their whole career, I'd remember them. Right now I have no reason to remember them since they change every year.