| abstract | - A Formula One car number is the number on a car used to identify a car and its driver. Currently, drivers are allowed to pick their own number for their career between 2 and 99, and the World Champion is allowed to use number 1. This number cannot be reallocated unless the driver has not driven in the sport for two seasons. Until 2013, the numbers were allocated with two rules: the previous season's World Champion used the number 1; following the Champion and his team-mate (car number 2), the teams were ordered by their position in the previous season's Constructors' Championship. Up to 1973, the numbers were given out by the race organisers. But midway through 1973, permanent numbers were trialled, and in 1974, permanent numbers were issued based on the Constructors' Championship positions in 1973. Since the 1973 World Champion, Jackie Stewart, left F1 at the end of 1973, the team leader for the constructors champion (Ronnie Peterson) drove the No. 1 car in 1974. Teams only changed numbers when the Drivers' Champion was not driving for the previous No. 1 holder, or when teams left F1 and left gaps in the numbers. These permanent numbers lasted until 1995, when a lack of teams forced a change to the current standards. These permanent numbers lead to a few quirks, namely Tyrrell holding onto numbers 3 and 4 for all 21 years, and the numbers 27 and 28 becoming iconic Ferrari numbers. The number 13 was not used, as per racing tradition. In fact, only one race pre-2014 featured a number 13 car starting in Formula One history: the 1963 Mexican Grand Prix. It was also used in the 1976 British Grand Prix, but was not qualified. As a result of this, the number 14 was often used by a one-car team or a third driver. In 2014, the number was selected by Pastor Maldonado. The number 0 has been used on a few occaisions, mainly by Damon Hill in 1993 and 1994 after Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost, the 1992 and 1993 World Champions, left the sport. It will most likely never see any post-2013 use. The number 6 has been used the most, with 931 races. The highest number is active use is number 8, used in 913 races. The highest number is 208, in a Radio Luxembourg-sponsored car for Lella Lombardi at the 1974 British Grand Prix. She did not qualify. It was also used in five non-championship races. Following the death of Jules Bianchi, the FIA decided to permanently retire the number 17 he drove with before his accident.
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