#17

PERMANENTLY RETIRED FROM FORMULA 1

In Memory of Jules Bianchi (1989-2015)

The Tragic Story Behind Number 17's Retirement

Jules Bianchi: The Lost Star

Date: October 5, 2014

Race: Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka

What Happened: In terrible wet conditions, Bianchi's Marussia car hydroplaned and crashed into a recovery vehicle that was removing another car. The impact at 126 km/h caused severe head injuries.

The Aftermath: Bianchi remained in a coma for 9 months before passing away on July 17, 2015. He was the first F1 driver to die from injuries sustained in a Grand Prix since Ayrton Senna in 1994.

"When we lose a young man in circumstances like these, the world stops. Number 17 was Jules' number. It will remain his number forever."

— Jean Todt, FIA President

Can F1 Drivers Use Number 69?

The Truth About #69 in Formula 1

Short Answer: Yes, technically it's allowed. But...

Why No One Uses It:

Brand Image: Teams don't want the sexual connotations associated with their multi-million dollar sponsors
Cultural Sensitivities: F1 is a global sport - what's funny in one country is offensive in another
Practical Reason: The FIA has to approve all numbers, and they'd likely reject #69 for being "inappropriate"

Fun Fact: In NASCAR, number 69 has been used occasionally. But in F1's 74-year history, it's never appeared on a car.

Other Restricted & Controversial Numbers

#13: Not banned, but avoided due to superstition

#0: Used only twice in history (Damon Hill 1993-94)

Number 13: The Unlucky Charm

Current Status: Available but rarely chosen

Last Driver to Use #13: Pastor Maldonado (2014) - coincidentally had 5 DNFs that season

Superstition Origins: The fear of number 13 (triskaidekaphobia) dates back centuries. In F1, it was avoided until 2014 when drivers were allowed to choose permanent numbers.

📊 F1 NUMBER SELECTION FACTS:

Most Popular: #7 (used by 8 different drivers since 2014)
Least Popular: #102, #103, #104 (available but never chosen)
Retired Numbers: Only #17 (permanently), #19 is "soft retired" for Alessandro Zanardi
Old System: Before 2014, numbers changed yearly based on constructor standings

F1 में नंबर 17 को प्रतिबंधित क्यों किया गया है?

हिंदी में समझें: नंबर 17 को जूल्स बियांची की याद में स्थायी रूप से प्रतिबंधित किया गया है। बियांची 2014 के जापानी ग्रां प्री में एक दुर्घटना में घायल हो गए थे और 9 महीने कोमा में रहने के बाद 2015 में उनकी मृत्यु हो गई।

यह F1 की 21वीं सदी में पहली मौत थी। FIA ने उनके सम्मान में उनके नंबर 17 को स्थायी रूप से रिटायर कर दिया।

Current F1 Number Rules (2024 Edition)

Rule	Details	Exception
Number Choice	Drivers keep number for career	World Champion can use #1
Banned Numbers	Only #17 permanently retired	FIA can reject "inappropriate" numbers
Number Range	2-99, plus 0	Three-digit numbers need special approval

The Future of F1 Numbers

With young drivers entering F1, we're seeing more personal number choices:

#81: Oscar Piastri (birth year 8 + 1)
#24: Guanyu Zhou (idolized Kobe Bryant)
#31: Esteban Ocon (father's favorite number)

My Prediction: As F1 expands to 12+ teams, we might see three-digit numbers. But #17 will forever remain Jules Bianchi's tribute.

Final Thought:

Numbers in F1 aren't just identifiers - they tell stories. #17 tells a tragic story. #1 tells a champion's story. And the unwritten rule about #69 tells a story about professionalism in a billion-dollar sport.

"In F1, numbers become legends. Some by achievement, some by tragedy, and some by never being used at all."