Is Number 69 Banned in Formula 1?

No. Under current FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, the number 69 is not banned; it is an available driver number. As of the 2025 season, no F1 driver has chosen 69 as their permanent race number, but the rules do not prohibit it.

What the rules say about F1 driver numbers

Since 2014, Formula 1 has used permanent driver numbers. Each full-time driver selects a number to keep throughout their F1 career. The FIA allows choices from 2 to 99, with specific exceptions: the reigning world champion may opt to use number 1, and number 17 is permanently retired in tribute to Jules Bianchi. If a driver leaves F1 for two consecutive seasons, their number becomes available again. None of these provisions specifically restrict the use of 69.

Which numbers are actually off-limits?

To understand why 69 remains available, it helps to see the categories of numbers that are restricted under the FIA regulations and practical usage.

• Number 1 is reserved for the current world champion if they choose to use it.
• Number 17 is permanently retired in memory of Jules Bianchi.
• Numbers outside the 2–99 range (such as 0 or 100) are not eligible selections.
• Numbers already registered by active drivers remain unavailable until those drivers leave F1 and the two-season reallocation period passes.

Beyond these clearly defined cases, there is no specific rule singling out 69. It simply remains unclaimed.

So why hasn’t anyone picked 69?

Driver number choices tend to reflect personal branding, early-career habits, or meaningful dates. Many Formula 1 drivers bring long-used karting or junior-series numbers with them. Some numbers also carry cultural or superstitious baggage that teams and sponsors might prefer to avoid. While 69 is famously associated with motorcycling—Nicky Hayden’s number was retired in MotoGP—it hasn’t attracted an F1 driver since the permanent numbering system began, likely due to branding preferences rather than any regulatory barrier.

Could the FIA refuse a number on taste grounds?

The FIA retains broad discretion to refuse entries or symbols that could bring the sport into disrepute. However, there is no explicit prohibition of 69 in the Formula One Sporting Regulations, and the number has not been singled out in official guidance. In practice, if a driver requested 69, approval would be assessed under the standard rules, just like any other number.

Has 69 ever appeared in Formula 1 events?

In the modern era of permanent numbers (2014 onward), 69 has not appeared on the F1 grid. Historically, F1 used race-by-race number assignments and sometimes featured higher numbers, but there is no modern Grand Prix usage of 69 to point to. Today, it remains an unused—but allowable—option.

Summary

The number 69 is not banned in Formula 1. Under current FIA rules, drivers may select any number from 2 to 99, with 1 reserved for the reigning champion and 17 permanently retired. As of the 2025 season, no driver has chosen 69, likely due to personal branding or sponsor considerations rather than regulation.