Max Verstappen has expressed his interest in changing his race number to three for the upcoming 2026 season if he loses his F1 title and can no longer use number one on his Red Bull car.
Initially, the 28-year-old driver used number 33 when he started in the sport, a number that became closely associated with him in racing circles. However, he only selected this number because his future teammate Daniel Ricciardo had already chosen number three for himself.
After winning his first world championship in 2021, Verstappen switched to number one, reserved for defending champions, and has kept it ever since. With the 2025 championship likely going to either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, Verstappen faces a decision.
During the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen announced his plan to switch to number three from 2026 onwards, pending approval from both the FIA and Ricciardo. Ricciardo retired from motorsport earlier this year after leaving Racing Bulls in 2024.
When asked about the potential number change, Verstappen replied, “That’s a good question. You need approval for it because the number is still taken by Daniel Ricciardo. He has not been out of Formula One for two years yet.” Verstappen added, “I will consider it over the winter, but my favorite number is #3. We need to see if it’s feasible.”
Verstappen humorously mentioned that he initially wanted number 69 but his father advised against it. He also expressed his liking for number 27, which is already taken. However, he finds numbers 2 and 7 visually appealing together. Ultimately, number three remains his favorite.
Fortunately, Ricciardo is unlikely to block Verstappen’s number change as they maintain a strong friendship despite Ricciardo’s retirement from open-wheel motorsport.
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Ricciardo, in an open letter to fans in September, announced his partnership with Ford as a Global Ford Racing Ambassador following his retirement. He emphasized that racing was always about fun and happiness for him, creating lasting memories.
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