The Pit Wall

Insights, deep-dives & race intel

Filtered by #driver-numbers · clear

Poster reading only one number is retired, with a large red 17 for Jules Bianchi, 1989 to 2015, surrounded by faded grey numbers 27, 13, 33, 44, 3, 69, 5 and 11, above the words 27 is not retired, 13 is not banned.

Retired F1 Numbers: There Is Only One

Formula 1 has retired exactly one number, and it is 17. The others people assume are gone, including 27 and 13, are all still available.

Bhavin Lathia· Sep 3, 2026

Poster titled What F1 Driver Numbers Mean over a red Ferrari car numbered 44, with callouts: 1 the champion's badge, 44 Hamilton's childhood kart number, 17 retired for Jules Bianchi.

Guides

F1 Driver Numbers Explained: Every Number on the 2026 Grid

Every F1 driver number on the 2026 grid, why drivers pick their own, what number 1 means, the story behind Hamilton's 44, and the number retired forever for Jules Bianchi.

Bhavin Lathia· Aug 6, 2026