Max Verstappen has expressed his wish to change his race number to three for the 2026 season if he loses his F1 title and is no longer entitled to use number one on his Red Bull car.
Initially, at the age of 28, Verstappen used number 33 when he first joined the sport, a number closely associated with him in racing circles. He selected this number because his future teammate Daniel Ricciardo had already taken number three.
After winning his first world championship in 2021, Verstappen opted for number one, reserved for defending champions, and has kept it ever since. However, with the 2025 championship likely to go to either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, the Red Bull driver needs to make 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. Ricciardo retired from motorsport earlier in the year after leaving Racing Bulls during the 2024 season.
When asked about the potential number 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 available yet due to Daniel Ricciardo not being out of Formula One for two years.”
He further stated, “I will consider it over the winter, but my favorite number is #3. We need to see if it is feasible.” In a light-hearted manner, he mentioned, “I actually wanted number 69, but my dad said ‘that’s not a good idea’. But that number always looks the same, regardless of the car’s orientation! 69 would be great for photos, marketing, and caps.”
Verstappen expressed his affinity for number 27 as well, which is already taken by another driver. He finds numbers 2 and 7 visually appealing together. Despite having various cool number preferences, number three remains his favorite.
Fortunately, Ricciardo is unlikely to oppose Verstappen’s request, as they maintain a strong friendship even after Ricciardo’s move to Renault and departure 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, expressing his enduring passion for anything related to wheels despite retiring from racing. He emphasized that racing was always about enjoyment and creating lasting memories.