The number 13 has been used in Formula One before, but we haven't seen it in a long time, and most likely never will again.
The world is a strange place and the number 13 has a very important spot in that world. Thirteen is regarded as an unlucky number and the fear of this number is called triskaidekaphobia.
There are various reasons and explanations why the number 13 is unlucky, but it seems that it is not unlucky all over the world, and in some cases it even proves to be lucky for some. However as a general rule humans tend to avoid it.
It is also interesting that in Tarot decks, the 13th card of the Major Arcana is Death and even though death is rarely interpreted literally, it would seem that it is this perception of 13 that also led to its unlucky number classification.
Most tall buildings in the world today have resorted to skipping the 13th floor by numbering it either 14 or 12a.
The Apollo 13 spacecraft also malfunctioned after being launched on April 11th at 13:13 CST, forcing it to return to Earth without a landing on the moon and endangering its crew.
Paul Torchy carried the number 13 on his Delage Grand Prix car in September 1925 when he crashed to his death at the San Sebastian Grand Prix. It is also interesting to note that 13 cars started in this race.
Count Giulio Masetti had the number 13 on his Delage Grand Prix car at the Targa Florio in April 1926. His car rolled over after crashing and killed the 31-year old driver.
It was then decided by the French Automobile Club to eliminate the number 13 and the number 17, which the Italian drivers did not favor at all.
The number 13 has not been in use in Formula One racing since 1976 and has only twice made an appearance at racetracks in the World Championship.
Moises Solana raced with the number 13 on his car at the 1963 Mexican Grand Prix for Scuderia Centro Sud in a BRM. He qualified 11th on the grid and also happened to finish the race placed in 11th spot after only finishing 57 laps after which he experienced an engine failure.
At the British Grand Prix of 1976 when Divina Galica attempted and failed to qualify in a Surtees Cosworth, she was also carrying the number 13 on her car. She qualified in 28 spot but only 26 cars were to take part in the race.
And that was the last time we saw the number 13 in Formula One racing. And it seems as if it will never make an appearance again.
Formula 1 teams are now no longer given the number 13 when car numbers are given out to them. The team now finishing seventh in the previous year's championship will take numbers 14 and 15 as opposed to 13 and 14.
