Max Verstappen has expressed his interest in changing his race number to three for the upcoming 2026 season if he loses his F1 championship and no longer holds the privilege of using number one on his Red Bull car.
Initially, Verstappen used the number 33 when he joined the sport, a number that became closely associated with him in racing circles. However, he selected this number because his future teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, had already claimed the number three.
After securing his first world championship in 2021, Verstappen opted for number one, reserved for defending champions, and has retained it since then. 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 confirmed his plan to switch to number three starting in 2026, pending approval from both the FIA and Ricciardo. Ricciardo retired from motorsport earlier this year after leaving Racing Bulls in the 2024 season.
When asked about the potential change, Verstappen responded, “That’s a good question. You have to get approval for it because, at the end of the day, the number is not free yet due to Daniel Ricciardo. He hasn’t been out of Formula One for two years yet.”
He added, “I will consider it over the winter, but my favorite number is #3. We just need to see if it’s feasible.” Verstappen humorously mentioned his desire for number 69 but acknowledged his father’s disapproval. He also expressed interest in numbers 27, 2, and 7.
Fortunately, Ricciardo is unlikely to oppose the change, as he maintains a strong friendship with Verstappen even after leaving Red Bull for Renault and stepping away from open-wheel motorsport.
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In a letter to fans in September, Ricciardo announced his partnership with Ford as a Global Ford Racing Ambassador following his retirement, expressing his continued passion for motorsports and the joy it brought him throughout his career.