FIA president Jean Todt announced this morning that the number 17 will be retired from the Formula One World Championship in honor of the last driver to use it, Jules Bianchi. Bianchi passed away following severe head injuries sustained at last year’s Japanese Grand Prix.

The FIA’s read as follows:

As F1 car numbers are now personally chosen by each driver, the FIA believes it to be an appropriate gesture to retire Jules Bianchi’s number 17.

As a result, this number can no longer be used for a car competing in the FIA Formula One World Championship.

Formula One switched to allowing drivers to choose their own car numbers for the 2014 season.

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