Why is number 69 banned in F1?
Is the Number 69 Banned in F1? Number 69 is not officially banned by the FIA, but no driver has chosen it since the system was introduced in 2014. The ban on number 17 in F1 traces back to the tragic loss of Jules Bianchi, a talented driver whose career was cut short by a fatal accident. The FIA chose to retire the number as a lasting tribute to honor his memory and achievements.
Is number 69 allowed in F1?
In 2014, it was decided to introduce the current system, where each driver gets to choose a permanent number. Drivers were initially allowed to choose any number from 2 through 99; number 1 is reserved for the World Drivers’ Champion. Currently, drivers are allowed to pick their own number for their career from 0, 2 through 99.