Max Verstappen has expressed his wish to change his race number to three for the 2026 season if he loses his F1 title and no longer holds the right to use number one on his Red Bull car.
Initially, at the start of his career, the 28-year-old used number 33, a digit closely associated with Verstappen in racing circles. He only settled for this number as his future teammate Daniel Ricciardo had already claimed number three for himself.
Following his first world championship win in 2021, Verstappen switched to number one, a number reserved for defending champions, and has since kept it. However, 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 adopt number three from 2026 onwards, 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 number change, Verstappen humorously responded, saying he favored number three but had considered other options like number 69 and 27. He mentioned that number 69 would be visually appealing for marketing purposes, but ultimately, number three remained his top choice.
Fortunately, Ricciardo is unlikely to oppose Verstappen’s number change, as the two maintain a strong friendship despite Ricciardo’s retirement from open-wheel motorsport.
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In a statement to fans in September, Ricciardo announced his partnership with Ford as a Global Ford Racing Ambassador, expressing his ongoing passion for motorsports despite his retirement. He emphasized that racing had always been about enjoyment and creating lasting memories for him.