Jean Todt, president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, announced the retirement of Jules Bianchi’s number 17 in his honor.
As you might have heard, the 25 year old French racing driver past away Friday night due to his severe traumas suffered nine months ago in the Japanese Gran Prix, following a gruesome collision with a recovery vehicle.
Jules Bianchi untimely passing was the first fatality caused by injuries sustained in a Formula 1 race since Senna’s accident, in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. As Formula 1 car numbers are now personally chosen by each driver and last throughout their career, the FIA considered to be an appropriate gesture to retire Bianchi’s racing number as a sign of mourning, grief and respect.
As a result, number 17 can no longer be used in the Formula 1 World Championship.
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