Max Verstappen has expressed his interest in changing his race number to three for the 2026 season if he loses his F1 championship title and is no longer entitled to use number one on his Red Bull car.
Initially, the 28-year-old driver used number 33 when he first joined the sport, a number that became closely associated with him. However, he only selected this number because his future teammate Daniel Ricciardo had already claimed number three for himself.
After winning his first world championship in 2021, Verstappen switched to number one, a number reserved for defending champions, which he has held onto since then. However, with the 2025 title likely going to either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, Verstappen faces a decision.
During the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen confirmed his plan to switch to number three starting 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, stating that he needs approval from Ricciardo since the number is still associated with him. He mentioned his fondness for number three and humorously expressed interest in number 69 for its visual appeal.
Fortunately, Ricciardo is unlikely to oppose Verstappen’s decision, as the two maintain a strong friendship despite Ricciardo’s retirement from open-wheel motorsport.
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