Max Verstappen has expressed his wish to change his race number to three starting from the 2026 season if he loses his F1 championship title and has to give up using number one on his Red Bull car.
Initially, the 28-year-old used number 33 when he joined the racing scene, a number that became strongly associated with Verstappen in the racing community. However, he only selected this number because his future teammate Daniel Ricciardo had already taken number three for himself.
After winning his first world championship in 2021, Verstappen switched to number one, a number exclusively reserved for defending champions, and has kept it since then. However, with the 2025 championship likely going to either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, the Red Bull driver faces a decision.
During the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen announced his plan to switch to number three in 2026, pending approval from both the FIA and Ricciardo. Ricciardo retired from motorsport earlier in the year after leaving Racing Bulls in the 2024 season.
When asked about the potential number change, Verstappen responded, “That’s a good question.” He mentioned that he needs approval for the change, considering Ricciardo still holds the number, as he has not been out of Formula One for two years yet.
Verstappen humorously mentioned his preference for number 69 but acknowledged his father’s disapproval. He also discussed other numbers he finds appealing, including 27, which is already taken by another driver. He emphasized that number three is his favorite but noted several other numbers he likes.
Fortunately, Ricciardo is unlikely to oppose the change, as he maintains a strong friendship with his former Red Bull teammate even after moving to Renault and stepping away from open-wheel motorsport.
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