Max Verstappen has expressed his interest in changing 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, Verstappen used number 33 when he joined the sport, a number that became closely associated with him in racing circles. However, he only selected this number because his future teammate Daniel Ricciardo had already claimed number three for himself.
After winning his first world championship in 2021, Verstappen opted for number one, reserved for defending champions, and has kept it since. But with the 2025 title likely going 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 starting in 2026, pending approval from both the FIA and Ricciardo. The Australian driver retired from motorsport earlier in the year after leaving Racing Bulls in the 2024 season.
Verstappen humorously mentioned his preference for number 69, but his father advised against it. He explained that the number always looks the same, making it a good marketing tool. Although he also likes numbers 27 and 2 along with 7 together, three remains his favorite.
Fortunately, Ricciardo is unlikely to oppose the change as he and Verstappen have maintained a strong friendship even after Ricciardo’s move to Renault and departure from open-wheel motorsport.
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