Nickv Wrote:
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> Before the previous number system (so the one in
> which Ferrari had 27 and 28 for most of the time),
> how did they allocate the numbers? Was there any
> system at all or was it just random?
The previous numbering system came into force at the start of 1974.
Before 1973, drivers raced with different numbers at each GP, regardless of what team they were driving for or where they'd finished in the standings the previous season. This was because the teams got given their racing numbers independently by the race organisers at each race when they entered their drivers. So yeah, you're right, the numbering
was random before then.
1973 was kind of a transition year between the two. Halfway through that season FOCA arranged for all the teams to submit one joint entry application for the races, and that meant FOCA could take over the numbering. For the 2nd half of 1973 the teams got assigned the same two numbers for their cars for each race, but there were still no numbers assigned specifically to one driver(For example, Jackie Stewart raced both as #5 and as #6 in various races later that year).
Regarding #13, no driver has ever died racing it. It's actually only ever raced once, in Mexico in 1963. The last time an F1 car #13 was entered for a race was at Brands Hatch in 1976, when the driver failed to qualify.
So I'd imagine it's just assumed to be unlucky.