32 replies to this topic

[lustigson]

Wow, yeat another way in which Lewis Hamilton follows in Ayrton Senna's footsteps. Lewis' #22 McLaren is the highest winning starting number since Senna's #27 McLaren in 1990.

Alan Jones also won the WDC with #27, at Williams in 1980. And if I'm not mistaking, the next-highest number to win the title — of course since 1974, when the old numbering system was adopted — is:

• #12: Lauda '74 and Senna '88
• #11: Hunt '76, Lauda '77 and Scheckter '79

[wewantourdarbyback]

Neither of them were a high number because of the usual modern method of being given numbers. Lewis' team would have finished a lot higher (probably numbers 3/4) and Senna was due the old numbering system.

Who knows what next year could throw up? If Lewis is discounted I reckon that the biggest number since the new system was brought in to win the championship was 5.

[Risil]

Originally posted by wewantourdarbyback
Neither of them were a high number because of the usual modern method of being given numbers. Lewis' team would have finished a lot higher (probably numbers 3/4) and Senna was due the old numbering system.

Who knows what next year could throw up? If Lewis is discounted I reckon that the biggest number since the new system was brought in to win the championship was 5.

Hakkinen was 7 or 8 in 1998, wasn't he?

[wewantourdarbyback]

Originally posted by Risil


Hakkinen was 7 or 8 in 1998, wasn't he?

you're right he was 8

8's the biggest number so far then

[Buttoneer]

I think it would be somehow fitting if he were to be allowed to keep the number for next year. Sad that the rules don't allow this really.

[potmotr]

I think the old numbering system was much better.

I liked the fact the Tyrrells were always 3 and 4 and the Ferraris were 27 and 28.

[FA and RK fan]

It would be great if drivers could choose there own numbers like in Moto GP.

[giacomo]

I don't give a damn about numbers at all.

[lustigson]

Originally posted by giacomo
I don't give a damn about numbers at all.

Then why do you post in a numbers thread?

[Ferrim]

I'd also like the old numbering system to be back.

Senna's title in 1990 was the only time in 1981-1995 that the #27 car won the drivers' championship.

And also the only time during that period it wasn't in a Ferrari...

You know, Williams on their current form entered the WC in 1978 or so and took high numbers, 27 & 28. Jones won the title in 1980 and therefore took number 1. Williams' 27 & 28 went to Ferrari, where Gilles made their legend with his 1981 drives in the Jarama and Monaco... and with his fatal accident the following year. Ferrari won no title until 1989. For 1990 they hired Prost, who had been the '89 champion and brought number 1 to Ferrari, 27 & 28 went to McLaren, but after Senna won in 1991, they went back again to Ferrari, and stayed there until the system was changed to the one we have now.

About this number thing, I'd like to share a few interesting things about Alesi's only win which also involve number 27. It was an iconic victory for several reasons:

-It was Alesi's only win. Therefore it also was his only win at Ferrari, and he was a classic Ferrari driver, of Italian ascent, known for his character and beloved by the tifosi;
-It was the 10th and last win for a #27 Ferrari;
-It was the last win of a Ferrari V12 engine;
-It happened on Alesi's birthday;
-It happened on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit, the guy who first made famous the #27 Ferrari.

And there are a few more, I just don't remember at the moment. The thing is, it's one of those things that make you think: "that had to happen".

[Clatter]

Originally posted by giacomo
I don't give a damn about numbers at all.

As you can't see the numbers on the car anyway I would tend to agree.

[giacomo]

Originally posted by lustigson

Then why do you post in a numbers thread?

For the same reason as everybody else: To express my opinion.

[Rob]

Let's bring back the big black numbers in a white circle.

[giacomo]

Originally posted by Rob
Let's bring back the big black numbers in a white circle.

Yeah, and new numbers at every race weekend.

[Craven Morehead]

Originally posted by Rob
Let's bring back the big black numbers in a white circle.

Absolutely agreed. I've been thinking that for years. And let drivers keep their numbers so that the fans can have an association there like in stick and ball sports. To this day I still associate Nigel with 'red five' and Gilles with #27.

[turin]

^ funny. I was visiting the web page of Elio and they make a big deal about number 11...which I think he only used 2 seasons.

[Craven Morehead]

Yeah, I guess it doesn't take long. Gilles ran both 2 & 12 before he wound up with 27, the number we all associate with him. Subsequently it became kinda a right of passage at Ferrari: Prost, Alesi, Mansell etc all ran it iirc, I thought this was great. Then Senna had it at McLaren, which is also cool. I just think it'd be great if guys had numbers assigned for longer periods. Obviously the number '1' would remain covetted and maybe a given driver's regular number could be set aside while he's wearing the '1'. With both cars already forced to wear matching liveries by the rules, I don't think it would do any harm if the numbers weren't necessarily sequential.

And yes, I associate Elio with the number 11.

[Galko877]

Originally posted by lustigson
Wow, yeat another way in which Lewis Hamilton follows in Ayrton Senna's footsteps. [/list]

Furthermore he has one head, two legs and two arms, just like Senna! Wow! Impressive resemblance! Noone can deny now Lewis is THE new Senna!

[Bloggsworth]

I apologise if at first I hadn't realised the true significance of this fact, it clearly throws Cartesian Number Theory right out of the window; no longer will we be able to apply Fast Fournier Transforms to the complex arrangement of gridded numbers and have to rely on chance results spread over 17 or 18 permutative events and try to rationalise them by careful and considered arithmetical afterthought.

Either that or go back to the casting of Runes...........................................

[lustigson]

Originally posted by Galko877
Furthermore he has one head, two legs and two arms, just like Senna! Wow! Impressive resemblance! Noone can deny now Lewis is THE new Senna!

Seems like you read my irony...;)

[aditya-now]

Originally posted by lustigson
Wow, yeat another way in which Lewis Hamilton follows in Ayrton Senna's footsteps. Lewis' #22 McLaren is the highest winning starting number since Senna's #27 McLaren in 1990.[/list]

Wow, yet another way to make the stupid Hamilton-Senna comparison.

Lewis is unique and unparalleled, leave him be, even if he has a Senna complex.

Originally posted by lustigson

Seems like you read my irony...;)

Ah, so this is in reality a Hamilton bash thread? Nice try, lustigson!




Anyway, thanks for the thread, it brought up many interesting historical details.
Elio was always 11 for me, as Gilles was 27, and it felt just right that it was Senna who brought the 27 finally to WDC honors.
And the Alesi facts are most interesting to be just coincidence.

It is true, in modern F1 it has always been the numbers 1-8, 11, 12 and 27 that had championship potential, for whatever reason.

[lustigson]

Originally posted by aditya-now
Wow, yet another way to make the stupid Hamilton-Senna comparison.

Lewis is unique and unparalleled, leave him be, even if he has a Senna complex.

Seems like you didn't read my irony...;)

[ensign14]

Originally posted by turin
^ funny. I was visiting the web page of Elio and they make a big deal about number 11...which I think he only used 2 seasons.

5 seasons, which included both his Grand Prix victories.

[lustigson]

Originally posted by aditya-now
It is true, in modern F1 it has always been the numbers 1-8, 11, 12 and 27 that had championship potential, for whatever reason.

With the old numbering system, those number have always belonged to the likes of Williams, McLaren, Brabham, Benetton, and Ferrari. No magic there.;)

[Henri Greuter]

Originally posted by aditya-now



Anyway, thanks for the thread, it brought up many interesting historical details.
Elio was always 11 for me, as Gilles was 27, and it felt just right that it was Senna who brought the 27 finally to WDC honors.
And the Alesi facts are most interesting to be just coincidence.

It is true, in modern F1 it has always been the numbers 1-8, 11, 12 and 27 that had championship potential, for whatever reason.

I'm old enough to associate 11 with Ferrari, the mid 70's 312T series.

Other than that, I don't think that the driver of car #27 in 1990 secured his world title at a manner that was worthy enough to even be mentioned in one sentence with the more honorable, legendary doings of several other drivers who had the number and made it famous on manners I cherish to remember.
One WDC won with #27 (and even that came with controversy (Jones knocking Off Piquet in Turn One...) was good enough. A second OK but not at the manner it was settled beyond doubt.



Henri

[tigrezno]

Originally posted by lustigson
Wow, yeat another way in which Lewis Hamilton follows in Ayrton Senna's footsteps. Lewis' #22 McLaren is the highest winning starting number since Senna's #27 McLaren in 1990.

Alan Jones also won the WDC with #27, at Williams in 1980. And if I'm not mistaking, the next-highest number to win the title — of course since 1974, when the old numbering system was adopted — is:

• #12: Lauda '74 and Senna '88
• #11: Hunt '76, Lauda '77 and Scheckter '79

I voted this for "most useless thread" award.

[lustigson]

Originally posted by tigrezno
I voted this for "most useless thread" award.

Wow, is there a poll on that?

[Chui]

Originally posted by Rob
Let's bring back the big black numbers in a white circle.

More importantly one car should have black wings and the other car white wings (both front and rear) such that they can be easily distinguished.

[lustigson]

Originally posted by Chui
More importantly one car should have black wings and the other car white wings (both front and rear) such that they can be easily distinguished.

That's actually quite a good, and feasible idea.

[alfa1]

Originally posted by aditya-now
Wow, yet another way to make the stupid Hamilton-Senna comparison.

I just found another one.
There is a numerology calculator at http://www.easynumerology.com/

Both 'Lewis Hamilton' and 'Ayrton Senna da Silva' result in the number 7.

(but then again, so does the word 'chance')

[Dolph]

Originally posted by giacomo
For the same reason as everybody else: To express my opinion.

Oh, I thought you were just being an ass

[Dolph]

Originally posted by giacomo
Yeah, and new numbers at every race weekend.

Gee, your parents really forgot to teach you how to act, didn't they!?

[Dolph]

Originally posted by tigrezno


I voted this for "most useless thread" award.

And I voted your post as "the most useless that thinks its funny and important"