Rubens to get Lucky Number 11

[Spritle]

I read on F1 Live that Jenson Button gave his duly earned car number 11 as the incumbent driver; to Rubens as it is Rubino’s lucky number from his kart racing days and he won his first race with that number. Pretty nice gesture!

Jenson Button will be driving with the number 12 on his car next season…

…unless of course he changes his mind…

Unfortunately I can’t provide a direct link to the article on F1 Live but its there on the main page under 28/11/05 news:

http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/

[We Love Osella]

Or is it that Rubens is going to be the Number 1 driver next season. Or am I too cynical

[Adam43]

Yes, you are.

A fun thing. A number makes no actual difference, but the world is a more interesting place with a few sentimental favourites.

[We Love Osella]

Funny thing is though, that the number 4 is unlucky in Japan. He didn't make any sacrifices for Taku in that respect

[Dutton]

Perhaps Taku didn't mind having 4.

[Marbot]

What will his lucky (or otherwise) number be next season?

[Dixie Flatline]

Originally Posted by AdamAshmore

Yes, you are.

A fun thing. A number makes no actual difference, but the world is a more interesting place with a few sentimental favourites.

Unless it's no. 1.

[Louis B.]

Originally Posted by We Love Osella

Or is it that Rubens is going to be the Number 1 driver next season. Or am I too cynical

II in Roman figures = 2
If you take the "1" of 11 and add them up together, you again get 2 as total.

I think the message is clear: Rubens, we repeat to you twice, you will be our number 2 as you were with the Italians.

[Louis B.]

Originally Posted by AdamAshmore

Yes, you are.

A fun thing. A number makes no actual difference, but the world is a more interesting place with a few sentimental favourites.

With Adam as president of the FIA there would be no number 1; no first, no second or third place; no podium; no championship point; no money amount, etc. Just plain & pure racing!

I vote for Adam as replacement for Mosley!

[Bononi]

Good for him getting the 11, better than if he was offered the 24...

[Hazard]

Wasn't that lucky for him in '96, where after a lucklustre year at Jordan, he was dropped and mostly believed to be on his way out of F1 until Stewart picked him up.

[Louis B.]

Completing Bononi's thoughts: ... or no number at all. Or even worse, his team could have lost his number such that he would have to wait by the phone as to whether and when he will be testing...

[cos]

I remember a similar thing with BAR in 2001 - Villeneuve wanted #10 because it had '1' in it, and 9 was Panis' lucky number. It doesn't mean much.

[Louis B.]

Originally Posted by cos

I remember a similar thing with BAR in 2001 - Villeneuve wanted #10 because it had '1' in it, and 9 was Panis' lucky number. It doesn't mean much.

Unfortunately "10" also has "0" in it such that he should have gone for the "9".

P.S. Better be me making that one I guess...

[JeremySmith]

I do not believe that it make the slightest difference what car number Ruben's is given. all this number one and number two driver stuff is pure baloney... That might have been the way Ferrari do business but not Honda..

[Swiss]

The number only makes a difference it has more surface area than your team mates, just think of all that extra weight on the car !!!

I think its a nice gesture by Jenson, shows he's not fussed on the number or even the status, could be a way of deflecting some pressure off him so he can prove himself completely next season

[BootsOntheSide]

I'm sure Jenson knows that if Rubens goes into the team adn outperforms him, he will have no claim to be the number 1 driver. But it certainly makes little or no difference.

[Ryo28]

Originally Posted by Hazard

Wasn't that lucky for him in '96, where after a lucklustre year at Jordan, he was dropped and mostly believed to be on his way out of F1 until Stewart picked him up.

IIRC he actually used 22 in 1997, and it was the Mastercad Lola team who were allocated 24 and 25. 24 therefore wasn't a particularly lucky number in 1997 (at least not for Riccardo Rosset...)

[TheNewBob]

Can't see a problem in having a number if it means something to you. we sometimes remember people by numbers tho - how many people associate 27 with Gilles? or 5 with Mansell? for example

[Kicking-back]

Gilles did more races as 12 then he did as 27

[BootsOntheSide]

Good point KB, he used 12 in 1978-79, 2 in 1980, and 27 from 1981 to his death. He also had much more success with 27 (although not as much as Alan Jones, who won the title with it in 1980). Sometimes history can be recorded and interpreted in strange ways.

[Rennen]

I want him to have No.13 !

[EERO]

Oh, you, pipe down.

[insideline]

Does it really matter which number a driver uses, on most cars the number is so small it's hardly readable anyway

[TheNewBob]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Gilles did more races as 12 then he did as 27

Aah. Oops! Hmm maybe bad example then, not being around back then I can't say for sure but then it would now seem the no.27 is remembered because he had most success, and also because he died in it?