After the confusion and complaints that ensued in the wake of the decision not to change team numbers next season, the FIA has now decided to change them after all.
The original decision had been based on the assumption that teams would welcome the cost cuts that come from not having to change numbers on cars, merchandising and promotional items. The FIA decided to only adjust the positions of the teams in the pitlane rather than the numbers as well, but this was not a welcome decision for some, especially Sauber, who's 4th in the Constructors was hard fought and well won.
The FIA have now reverted to their usual practice of the last few years and teams will be numbered according to the position in which they finished in the Constructors' Championship the season before. <pre>
New numbers for 2002.
N° Driver Team Make 1 Michael Schumacher (D) Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Ferrari 2 Rubens Barrichello (BR) Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Ferrari 3 David Coulthard (GB) West Mclaren Mercedes Mclaren Mercedes 4 Kimi RÄIkkÖNen (FIN) West Mclaren Mercedes Mclaren Mercedes 5 Ralf Schumacher (D) BMW WiliamssF1 Team Williams BMW 6 Juan Pablo Montoya (CO) BMW WilliamsF1 Team Williams BMW 7 Nick Heidfeld (D) Sauber Petronas Sauber Petronas 8 Felipe Massa (BR) Sauber Petronas Sauber Petronas 9 Giancarlo Fisichella (I) Jordan Honda Jordan Honda 10 Takuma Sato (J) Jordan Honda Jordan Honda 11 Jacques Villeneuve (CDN) Lucky Strike Bar Honda Bar Honda 12 Olivier Panis (F) Lucky Strike Bar Honda Bar Honda 14 Jarno Trulli (I) Mild Seven Renault F1 Team Renault 15 Jenson Button (GB) Mild Seven Renault F1 Team Renault 16 Eddie Irvine (GB) Jaguar Racing Jaguar Cosworth 17 Pedro De La Rosa (E) Jaguar Racing Jaguar Cosworth 18 TBA TBA Prost TBA Prost TBA 19 TBA TBA Prost TBA Prost TBA 20 TBA Orange Arrows Arrows Cosworth 21 TBA Orange Arrows Arrows Cosworth 22 TBA TBA Minardi Asiatech Minardi Asiatech 23 TBA TBA Minardi Asiatech Minardi Asiatech 24 Mika Salo (FIN) Panasonic Toyota Racing Toyota 25 Allan Mcnish (GB) Panasonic Toyota Racing Toyota
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