Max Verstappen has expressed his interest in changing his race number to three for the 2026 season if he loses his F1 title and no longer holds the right to use number one on his Red Bull car.
Initially, the 28-year-old driver used number 33 when he joined the sport, a number that became closely associated with him in the racing community. However, he picked this number because his future teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, had already claimed number three for himself.
Following his first world championship win in 2021, Verstappen opted for number one, reserved for defending champions, and has maintained it since then. However, with the 2025 title likely going to either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, Verstappen must decide on a new number.
During the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen confirmed his plan to switch to number three from 2026 onwards, 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 change, Verstappen responded, “That’s a good question.” He mentioned his preference for number three and humorously added that he had considered number 69 but was advised against it. He also expressed liking for numbers 27, 2, and 7.
Fortunately, Ricciardo is unlikely to oppose the switch, as he maintains a strong friendship with Verstappen despite his career move to Renault and departure from open-wheel motorsport.
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