FIA president Jean Todt is keen for teams to employ larger numbers on their cars in a bid to help fans identify drivers.
Whilst hardcore fans can identify a driver from their unique helmet or T-cam colour, it’s difficult for the general viewer to pick out who’s who without knowing what sets them apart.
Todt reckons F1 should look to NASCAR by giving drivers preset numbers when they enter the sport, a number which will remain with them thoughout their career no matter where they place in the championship.
He also believes the numbers should be more prominent on the car, much like Williams’ pre-season intermin livery.
“It is very difficult to identify a driver in car,” explained Todt to The Age. “I would like to see who is driving the car, from a long distance and the number of the car.
“Like in NASCAR… a driver who is arriving in F1, he gets a number [assigned to him]. He would keep it for all of his career. You could identify a driver with a number.”
Whilst being president of the FIA gives Todt powers to improve safety, he doesn’t have the authority to put such a change in place without the agreement of the teams.
“I don’t have the power without creating unnecessary conflict to change something I’m not happy [about].
“You need to have some strong ground for changing. You need to have at minimum, a positive opinion among the group in F1,” he added.
The idea might not prove popular among the teams as larger numbers will take-up important space reserved for title sponsors.
Discussion about this post