Search the Community

Along with the controversial decision to award double points for the final race of the season, the FIA announced last month that Formula One drivers would be allowed to choose permanent numbers that can be carried over from season to season. Previously, the numbers changed based on finishing position during the previous year. The new system allows the reigning world champion to wear number one, if he chooses, while the rest of the field can choose a number from 2 to 99. Now, we have the list of numbers each driver has chosen. First and foremost, Sebastian Vettel will wear number one next season, although the four-time champion will race under number five if someone ever manages to unseat him from the top of the F1 hierarchy. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, meanwhile, will carry number 44 to the track, while Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari will wear 14 and seven, respectively. Jenson Button and his McLaren will be number 22. See the full list of numbers below. Red Bull 1. Sebastian Vettel (will use number five when not reigning champion) 3. Daniel Ricciardo Mercedes 44. Lewis Hamilton 6. Nico Rosberg Ferrari 14. Fernando Alonso 7. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus 8. Romain Grosjean 13. Pastor Maldonado McLaren 22. Jenson Button 20. Kevin Magnussen Force India 27. Nico Hulkenberg 11. Sergio Perez Sauber 99. Adrian Sutil 21. Esteban Gutierrez Toro Rosso 25. Jean Eric Vergne 26. Daniel Kvyat Williams 19. Felipe Massa 77. Valtteri Bottas Marussia 17. Jules Bianchi TBC Max Chilton Caterham Both drivers to be confirmed

Some racing series are easier to understand than others, but to put it mildly, F1 is about as technically complex as rocket science. With 500 members of each team spending millions upon millions each year to gain an advantage. But if you thought you had managed to wrap your head around the way things work, think again, because the series is undergoing a major overhaul of its technical regulations for the 2014 season. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkVGl9bD9T0 Of course, the biggest change is a switch from naturally aspirated 2.4-liter V8 engines to turbocharged 1.6-liter V6 powerplants, but that's not the sum total of the shift. The cars' hybrid component are set to play a bigger role, the aerodynamic regulations are changing, as are the exhaust system limitations and a whole mess of other details. It's enough to make your head spin at 20,000 rpm. Fortunately the BBC has put together this handy little video interviewing the experts and breaking down the changes into layman's terms that even we can understand. Watch the handy three-and-a-half-minute video primer below to get yourself up to speed on next year's F1 regulations.