Drivers need larger numbers on their cars
- This topic has 16 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 2 months ago by Atticus.
- AuthorPosts
- 11th January 2015, 12:10 at 12:10 pm #290208AtticusParticipant
Just a quick thought.
The drivers having their own race numbers is a great idea to help them distinguish themselves, have an identity, create a marketing tool (see #LH44).
But I feel like the numbers cannot really fulfill another primary goal, i. e. helping the viewers see who is who a lot more clearly, unless they become, simply, larger.
Currently, they are tiny bits of paints on the cars that hardly helps in most cases.
Thoughts?
11th January 2015, 12:51 at 12:51 pm #290209juicedtinParticipantI agree, I think it would also help fill empty space on the cars with the lack of sponsorship these days.
11th January 2015, 14:30 at 2:30 pm #290213sam3110ParticipantI also agree, I’d say they should be on the sidepod, the most part of the rear wings endplate, the side of the cockpit or the engine cover, but they need to be at least as big as, for instance, the Claro logo on the Sauber, or the Infiniti logo on the Red Bull
11th January 2015, 14:43 at 2:43 pm #290214AtticusParticipant@sam3110 I think either the sidepod or the engine cover will do – one clearly visible and large area is enough also taking into account that we would strip the (remaining) sponsors from one of the most, if not the most coveted space on the car.
Also, if I were a rule-maker, I’d prescribe the size of the number only and leave its design to the team designers (bar, perhaps, that there must be a uniform black outline to the number – with a prescribed thinkness – to avoid the loophole of a team choosing the background colour as its font colour and simply make the “number” invisible). I think this is important.
11th January 2015, 14:53 at 2:53 pm #290215sam3110ParticipantWell yeah I didn’t mean put it on all of those areas but I agree they need to ensure it is prominent and stands out from the background of the car.
I’d love it if the numbers were completely personalised like on the graphics when showing the drivers on the grid
11th January 2015, 15:46 at 3:46 pm #290216DanParticipantIf the teams were not keen on putting numbers on the side of the car, why not put the drivers name? It last happened in 2010 with the HRT team i think, if it was introduced this year will be a bit confusing to have Felipe (Massa) & Felipe (Nasa). Especialy if you cant tell teams apart
11th January 2015, 15:54 at 3:54 pm #290217David Not CoulthardParticipant@f1fanf1fan But they eventually replaced it with “It Could Be YOU”…..so even HRT fell out of keeness of doing that.
11th January 2015, 16:30 at 4:30 pm #290218AtticusParticipant@f1fanf1fan It’s because a maximum of two-digit number takes less space than a name (or it could be larger on an area of the same size). …And then there’s this year’s Williams issue, yeah.
I wonder if someone out of the real decision-makers actually stumble upon this topic before the start of the season (or even in-season).
11th January 2015, 20:22 at 8:22 pm #290224Iestyn DaviesParticipantIt would probably be best to have surnames instead of first names, if used. But, I agree that numbers should be more prominent on the cars, maybe even with a regulated space for them if it doesn’t hinder space for sponsors.
12th January 2015, 13:42 at 1:42 pm #290237Craig WoollardParticipantI like the way McLaren used to their thing with the names.
12th January 2015, 21:54 at 9:54 pm #290246pHParticipantI agree that prominent numbers should be required.
I looked at my seasons overview and see that large, very prominent numbers visible from the side (on sidepods, rear wings, or sometimes on engine cover) were the norm until the early 1980’s, when some backmarkers would run some races (like ATS in 1982) without side numbers, but still with very prominent numbers on noses. These were rare exceptions.
Things started to go wrong in the early 1990’s, when the numbers moved (with few exceptions) from sidepods to rear wing sides, where their visibility depended heavily on the viewing angle. In 2000, Prost discarded with numbers entirely (the wily Prost again! :-) ), in 2002 more teams joined and things went quickly bad.
Since this was the time when I stopped following F1, I have no idea why this happened. Perhaps teams felt that everybody can recognize Schumacher and the others do not matter anyway :-).
12th January 2015, 23:35 at 11:35 pm #290248AtticusParticipant@pH Thank you for the historical perspective, it really adds dimension to the topic.
13th January 2015, 1:38 at 1:38 am #290250Iestyn DaviesParticipant@craig-o Ah yes, that was when they were between West and Vodafone as title sponsor, 2006? It’s a similar situation now.. they could have Jenson/Fernando, or Button/Alonso…. and as both are WDC it would be a nice touch to do something different at least.. but for now, I reckon they’ll keep cycling their other partners through the available spaces.
13th January 2015, 8:50 at 8:50 am #290252AmbroseRPMParticipant@IestynDavies – In 2006 McLaren used Johnnie Walker on the sidepod, the names were used when the tobacco name wasn’t allowed.
13th January 2015, 11:26 at 11:26 am #290255AsanatorParticipantI don’t think bigger numbers are required at all. Drivers have always been identified by their helmets. They have a number on the top of their helmets for the on board shots, I don’t think it will make any significant difference as instead of knowing your helmets you will have to learn a bunch of numbers.
Personally I would rather learn/remember helmet designs which are far easier to see from a distance
- AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.