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F1 drivers to get to choose their race numbers from 2014

F1 drivers to get permanent numbers
Drivers to get permanent numbers from F1 2014 onwards

Drivers competing in the FIA F1 World Championship will be assigned permanent numbers from next year.

FIA president Jean Todt recently voiced his support for the move, and it has now been agreed following a meeting of the F1 Strategy Group and the Formula One Commission.

“Drivers will be asked to choose their race number, between 2 and 99, for the duration of their career in the FIA Formula One World Championship. Number 1 will be reserved for the current World Champion, should he choose to use it,” read a statement to the media.

“If more than one driver chooses the same number, priority will be given to the driver who finished highest in the previous year's championship.”

Numbers in F1 have been assigned according to where teams finishes in the Constructors' Championship in recent years, with the exception of the number one, that always goes to the reigning world champion. However in the past that wasn't always the case, with red #5, famously associated with Nigel Mansell, while the #27 is always linked to the legendary Gilles Villeneuve.

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Double points confirmed for final F1 race
09 December 2013

Change made in a bid to 'maximise [the] focus on the Championship until the end of the campaign'...

Double points confirmed for final F1 race



The FIA has announced that double points will be awarded at the final race of each F1 season.

The decision has been made following a meeting of the F1 Strategy Group and the Formula One Commission in Paris today.

“Double drivers' and constructors' points will be awarded at the final race of the Formula One season in order to maximise focus on the Championship until the end of the campaign,” read a statement.

The changes are immediately applicable, 'given the mandate assigned to the FIA president at the last World Motor Sport Council meeting, held on 4 December in Paris'.

As such, drivers will now be able to score a maximum of 50 points in the last race of the year, while teams be able to notch up 86 – 50 for winning and 36 for second.

In terms of the drivers' championship, it would have had no influence on the outcome of this year's battle, although Sebastian Vettel would not have taken the title in 2012. Instead Ferrari number one driver Fernando Alonso would have come out top. The Scuderia will also have benefitted in 2008, when then McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton denied Felipe Massa the crown by a single point – the Brazilian won the season finale at Interlagos, but it wasn't quite enough...

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F1 to adopt cost cap, proposal agreed in principle
09 December 2013

Working Group, comprising the FIA, representatives of the Commercial Rights Holder and F1 team representatives, to be established to set cost cap


F1 to adopt cost cap
F1 to adopt cost cap, proposal agreed in principle

F1 is to introduce a 'global cost cap' and the limit will be applied from the start of January 2015.

The decision comes in the wake of the economic downturn and increasing pressure on a number of the teams in the sport.

“The principle of a global cost cap has been adopted. The limit will be applied from January 2015,” confirmed a statement issued by the FIA following a meeting of the F1 Strategy Group and the Formula One Commission in Paris.

“A working group will [now] be established within the coming days comprising the FIA, representatives of the Commercial Rights Holder and Team representatives.

“The objective of the working group will be to have regulations approved by the end of June 2014.”

Last month, McLaren team principal, Martin Whitmarsh told Bloomberg that Red Bull's arrival had 'distorted the sport' because of its level of expenditure.

Responding to claims by Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner that the Milton Keynes-based outfit isn't the biggest spender, Whitmarsh said: “You'll see that's just rubbish - but everyone knows that and they know it as well.”

Horner, however, added: “The fastest way to become unpopular is to start winning. And we've done a lot of winning the last few years. It's inevitable that doesn't sit too comfy with some teams.”

Ferrari meanwhile used its 'Horse Whisperer' column following the Brazilian Grand Prix to deny it spends around £250 million per year on its F1 programme.

“When the championship finishes, the moment arrives to take stock. If it's enough in sport to look at the points standings, in business some trust in summer valuations, even if they are carried out under a parasol.

“For that reason, months later, a reconstruction of the budgets of F1 teams developed by an Autosport colleague has transformed itself into journalistic fact. It's a pity that the cited figures are largely fantasy and they can draw even distinguished newspapers into conclusions that are wildly erroneous. It would be easy to deny the figures with facts but the truth about business matters has to stay confidential: this too, like technology, is a crucial factor in competition.”

consolidated

I think they're going to regret this one. Too much emphasis on Abu Dhabi next season, it's completely manufactured and has no reason except to create unreasonable spectacle and mayhem.

JustinL

It could be especially funny if Sebastian wins another championship because of this rule next year.

My993C2

This new scoring gimmick is a joke. What are they going to do if Vettel wins the race and takes the championship because of it? Implement a "Double your points for every race Vettel fails to win" policy? It used to be where the first race and every race afterwards meant the same thing. This is no longer the case. The way F1 is headed, how much longer before a Shifter Kart starts lapping faster than an F1 car?

consolidated

Looking forward to Crashgate Abu Dhabi style. This move is so reactionary to current events, 2014 is a reset year as it is, seems rather desperate to go this far.

It would be absolute ironic hilarity if Vettel pips DV because of this...of course that'll fall in line with Alonso's victim narrative, and the rule will die for 2015.

redleg321

Given the fact that RB have said they put almost all their focus on this 2013's car, they may be way less competitive in 2014 as all other teams have been heavily developing their new platform.

So indeed, RB may become the underdog yet win all in the same year due to this stupid rule!

Veloce Raptor

Yep. This stuff is just...stupid.

paradisenb

Horner, however, added: “The fastest way to become unpopular is to start winning. And we've done a lot of winning the last few years. It's inevitable that doesn't sit too comfy with some teams.”

Christian must be reading Rennlist.

The points rule is total BS. They want Championships to go down to the wire, build spec cars and handicap the best driver/s.

mklaskin

Agreed. The championship should reward consistency. This reeks of the FIA taking a not-too-good-a-look at the NASCAR Chase.

hacker-pschorr

I know, with only 5 races to go the top 5 drivers enter in some kind of "chase to the championship" and the points start over form zero and the rest of the field are just there getting in the way.

NaroEscape

Um...isn't that what F1 has become over the past few years anyway?
DRS
KERS
manipulating tire compounds to force more pit stops
etc..
etc..
etc....

redleg321

Well at least the other STUPID rule they proposed has been temporarily rejected:

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/90...Stops-For-2014

It's not going to get better. It'll just come to a vote again and eventually they'll implement half a dozen pit stops mandatory.

Repugnant.

Land Jet

I don't know what is in the water they serve at FIA headquarters, but it immediately makes you stick your head up your *** and invent new rules that are asinine.