Jules start number 17 will no longer be in use
As a sign of respect for Jules Bianchi, the FIA has decided that Bianchi's starting number 17 will no longer be available to Formula One drivers. "Since the start numbers are chosen by the racers, we at the FIA believe that it is most appropriate to" retire "Bianchi's start number 17," they wrote in a press release. "That number will no longer be available to any Formula One racer." In December 2013, Bianchi expressed a desire to compete with one of the starting numbers 7, 27 or 77. In the end, 7 was awarded to Kimi Raikkonen, 27 to Nico Hulkenberg and 77 to Valtteri Bottas, so Bianchi opted for 17.