Max Verstappen has expressed his wish to change his race number to three for the 2026 season if he loses his F1 title and can no longer use number one 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 this 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 stuck with it since then. With the 2025 title 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.
Verstappen jokingly mentioned wanting number 69 but settled on number three as his favorite. He acknowledged the need for approval due to Ricciardo’s prior claim to the number. Ricciardo is expected to support Verstappen’s decision as they maintain a strong friendship despite Ricciardo’s retirement from open-wheel motorsport.
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Ricciardo, in a letter to fans in September, announced his partnership with Ford as a Global Ford Racing Ambassador post-retirement. He emphasized his love for motorsports and the joy racing brought to him, leading to his decision to stay connected to the racing world even after retiring.
