Is number 17 banned in F1?

Why Is There No Number 17 in Formula 1?

Unlike in some sports where certain numbers are retired for legendary status, in Formula 1, the retirement of a racing number carries a deeper, more somber meaning. Since 2015, the number 17 has not appeared on any F1 car—not because of superstition or branding, but as a mark of respect.

This quiet tribute is for Jules Bianchi, the French driver whose life was tragically cut short in 2015 after suffering severe head injuries during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. At the time of the accident, Bianchi was driving for the Marussia team and proudly wore the number 17 on his car. His courage, talent, and spirit had already earned him admiration across the paddock, and his loss deeply affected the entire F1 community.

Shortly after his passing, the FIA and Formula 1 officially retired the number 17, making it the first and only permanent retirement in the sport’s modern era. No driver has carried it since, and there are no plans to reissue it in the future. It stands as a solemn reminder of the risks inherent in motorsport and the lasting impact one driver can have.

While drivers today choose their numbers upon entering the sport—thanks to a system introduced in 2014—many still acknowledge the significance of 17. Some have even changed their original choices out of respect, proving the strength of the sport's unspoken codes.

Jules Bianchi’s legacy lives on far beyond statistics or podium finishes. His memory is honored every time a race weekend begins and the grid rolls out—minus one number, but never forgotten.