FIA reveals plan for bigger driver numbers and names

The FIA has confirmed its intention to enforce long-standing rules on Formula 1 car numbers and driver names from the Spanish Grand Prix by outlining the minimum requirements to the teams.

Carlos Sainz Jr., Scuderia Toro Rosso STR12

Sergey Sirotkin, Renault Sport F1 Team RS17

A letter from race director Charlie Whiting says that race numbers should be at least 230mm high, and that the names should be 150mm, and on the external bodywork.

Teams have the option to use the “TLA’, or official timing screen abbreviation for a driver's name, meaning Lewis Hamilton could use HAM and Sebastian Vettel could use VET.

Little attention has hitherto been paid to this part of the FIA Sporting Regulations, but the matter was raised by the F1 Strategy Group and F1 Commission earlier this week, as part of an ongoing push to improve the show for fans and TV viewers.

As well as outlining the season-long allocation of numbers, Article 9.2 states that “This number must be clearly visible from the front of the car and on the driver’s crash helmet.”

Article 9.3 adds that “the name or the emblem of the make of the car must appear on the front of the nose of the car and in either case be at least 25mm in its largest dimension. The name of the driver must appear on the external bodywork and be clearly legible.”

In the letter, Whiting told the teams that “we require each car number to be clearly visible from the front of the car (Article 9.2).

"We feel that to be clearly visible the numbers should be no less than 230mm high, have a minimum stroke thickness of 40mm and be of a clearly contrasting colour to their background.”

Regarding the driver names, the requirement is for “each driver’s name (or TLA) to be clearly legible on the external bodywork (Article 9.3).

"We feel that to be clearly legible the names should be no less than 150mm high, have a minimum stroke thickness of 30mm and be of a clearly contrasting colour to their background.”

Whiting also confirmed that failure to meet the new requirements could mean that a car is ineligible to take part, writing: "In order to fully comply with the F1 Sporting Regulations, we expect all cars to be presented in Barcelona with this new, much clearer, identification.

"A report will be made to the stewards concerning any car that does not comply with the above minimum requirements.”