FIA preliminary driver list

Here is the preliminary list of drivers for this season as released by the FIA in Paris today. In a related news article, Reuters mentions that McLaren has designated Hakkinen as their number 2 driver, adding to speculation that Mansell will be signed. You will note that Hakkinen is listed as car number 8 on this list whereas last year he drove car number 7, with Brundle driving under 8.

Wendlinger has the same number as he had last year before his accident (29) and Frentzen keeps his number 30. The silly number 0 is now thankfully able to be dropped and Hill now has Mansell's old number.

1 Michael Schumacher Benetton 2 Johnny Herbert Benetton 3 Ukyo Katayama Tyrrell 4 To be announced Tyrrell 5 Damon Hill Williams 6 David Coulthard Williams 7 To be announced McLaren 8 Mika Hakkinen McLaren 9 To be announced Arrows 10 To be announced Arrows 11 Hideki Noda Simtek 12 To be announced Simtek 14 Rubens Barrichello Jordan 15 Eddie Irvine Jordan 16 To be announced Pacific 17 To be announced Pacific 19 To be announced Larrousse 20 Erik Comas Larrousse 21 Pedro Paulo Diniz Forti 22 To be announced Forti 23 Pierluigi Martini Minardi 24 Luca Badoer Minardi 25 To be announced Ligier 26 Olivier Panis Ligier 27 Jean Alesi Ferrari 28 Gerhard Berger Ferrari 29 Karl Wendlinger Sauber 30 Heinz-Harald Frentzen Sauber Peter