Max Verstappen has expressed his wish to change his race number to three starting in 2026 if he loses his F1 title and forfeits the number one designation on his Red Bull car.
Initially, the 28-year-old used number 33 when he joined the sport, a number closely associated with him in racing circles. However, he only selected that number because his future teammate Daniel Ricciardo had already claimed number three.
Following his first world championship win in 2021, Verstappen switched to number one, reserved for defending champions, and has kept it since then. With the 2025 championship likely to go 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 from 2026 onwards, pending approval from both the FIA and Ricciardo. The Australian driver retired from motorsport earlier this year after leaving Racing Bulls in the 2024 season.
Verstappen humorously mentioned considering number 69 but favored number three as his top choice. He acknowledged the need for permission due to Ricciardo’s prior claim on the number.
Fortunately, Ricciardo is expected to support Verstappen’s number change, as they maintain a strong friendship despite Ricciardo’s shift to Renault and exit from open-wheel motorsport.
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