2014 FIA Formula 1 World Championship

2014 has arrived, with the season opener in Melbourne just 9 weeks away! And that means the car launches aren't far away. Some think that McLaren will be running a traditional Orange livery after their deal with Vodafone expired. Here is the dates for car launches confirmed so far:

"McLaren will launch their car online on the 24th January, before they get to the test. In previous years, they have had a prize-winning audience from Vodafone, but that partnership is now ended. Will they announce their new headline partner at the same time?

Mercedes will launch their new car in the pit lane in Jerez on 28th January. We expect them not to be the only ones.

Caterham are another team that will launch on Jerez on 28th January. One key question still to be answered – who are their drivers?

Lotus have announced that they are not taking their new car to Jerez for the first test that starts on 28th January. Apparently it “isn’t ideal for our build and development programme” which means they’re not ready yet. They currently plan to launch in Bahrain on 19th February".

And drivers have begun applying for their new numbers. While the number one badge will be reserved for the World Champion, should he choose to use it, the rest of the field have been asked to select a number of their preference between two and 99.

Red Bull
Sebastian Vettel: 1.
Daniel Ricciardo: 3.

Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton: 44.
Nico Rosberg: 6.

Ferrari
Fernando Alonso: 14.
Kimi Raikkonen: 7.

Lotus
Romain Grosjean: 8.
Pastor Maldonado: 13.

McLaren
Jenson Button: 22.
Kevin Magnussen: 20.

Force India
Sergio Perez: 11.
Nico Hulkenberg: 27.

Sauber
Adrian Sutil: 99.
Esteban Gutierrez: 21.

Toro Rosso
Jean-Eric Vergne: 25.
Daniil Kvyat: 26

Williams
Felipe Massa: 19.
Valtteri Bottas: 77.

Marussia
Jules Bianchi: 17
Max Chilton: 4

Caterham
Kamui Kobayashi: 10
Marcus Ericsson: 9

Surprised no one has gone for #69 yet

Culchi always had the 69 here on TORA...

I hear they are going to plaster the numbers over the drivers helmet though. I hope that doesn't happen. The helmet is the driver's signature.

Full numbers revealed - except for Max Chilton, who probably wants number 1...

http://www.fia.com/2014-fia-f1-world-championship-entry-list

interesting, the reigning champ gets #1. Makes sense, I like that

The champion doesn't have to use #1 if he doesn't want to.

Also, I see nobody fancied being #2  

Same as just about every other form of motorsport.

Sebastian Vettel will use #5 for his career, unless he has the right to use #1.

A good read on what else is new for 2014,

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/3261/9078349/Good-Rules-Bad-Rules

Still going ahead with double points? I thought they'd dropped that?

nickyf1 wrote:Still going ahead with double points?  I thought they'd dropped that?

Yeah i heard the same ?

R.I.P. John Button

HABURi Where cant find news on this

Absolutely gutted to hear JB snr passed away. RiP John Button   

#22 for the F1 WDC 2014

Come on Jenson

Great shame about John Button, he was a great personality in the paddock.
I'll be rooting for #6 Nico Rosberg, would love for Hamilton to win it as well. I respect Vettel as a driver but I hope someone knocks him off his perch, preferably a Mercedes

I just want a decent bloody season for once.

Really sad to hear about John Button's passing.  He's always been a feature of the paddock throughout Jenson's career, and I'm pretty sure I have this on tape somewhere.  Australia 2000, definitely the best father/son interview combo:

2014 Ferrari car under wraps, excuse the picture on the top right as its the F2001 and only in this image for comparison, the pictures on the top left and bottom are the F2014

Bernie Ecclestone is trying to buy the Nurburgring

Oh dear, the N24 is screwed even with the track being saved...

Redbull RB10 under wraps, car claimed "Ugly" by christian Horner

RB10 does look ugly already. Looks like the front wing arcs upwards ugh.

Can't wait for Raikkonen vs Alonso!

Hey if any of you guys are interested we have a great F1 2013 series going on over at www.F1RacingLeague.com or check us out on FB at facebook/f1racingleague. Anyone linked to the LMR fb page you can find links off there.

Kilroy8 wrote:RB10 does look ugly already. Looks like the front wing arcs upwards ugh.

How do you gather that from the tarpaulin?!