SlashGear has always been here for you to help unravel the lore behind Formula 1 racing. We've provided a crash course for Formula 1 newbies, a breakdown of F1's fastest dozen cars, and our ranking of the best F1 drivers in history. There's also plenty of history behind the numbers on each car, although they have a different meaning in recent years than when the sport was new. Since 2014, each driver has been able to choose the number that goes on the front of their car, with some caveats. No. 1 is reserved for the previous year's champion, who can race with that prestigious digit or their chosen number.

Numbers stay with a driver for their entire career, and drivers can choose any number from two through 99, except for 17. That number was retired in honor of Jules Bianchi, who was involved in a horrific crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix and died nine months later. Drivers weren't always allowed to select their own numbers. In Formula 1's early years, race organizers assigned numbers, sometimes based on the drivers' standings but other times according to their finish in previous races.