Kelly Piquet Waves Off Max Verstappen’s Playful Driver Number Idea as Dutch Star Confirms 2026 Switch
Max Verstappen may no longer be Formula 1’s reigning world champion, but his trademark sense of humour remains firmly intact. Following a dramatic conclusion to the 2025 season, which saw McLaren’s Lando Norris secure his first-ever world championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, attention has quickly shifted to what comes next for the Red Bull superstar.
One of the immediate consequences of Norris’ title triumph is a symbolic but significant change for Verstappen. Having lost the championship crown, the Dutchman will no longer be eligible to race with the coveted number ‘1’ on his car in 2026 — a privilege reserved exclusively for the reigning world champion. Instead, that honour will pass to Norris, marking a clear changing of the guard at the top of the sport.
With that confirmed, speculation soon followed over which driver number Verstappen would choose for the new season. Since Formula 1 introduced permanent driver numbers in 2014, Verstappen has been synonymous with the number ‘33’, the digits he used throughout much of his early career. However, with his championship success came the option to run number ‘1’, a choice he embraced during his title-winning years.
Now forced to pick again, Verstappen found himself at the centre of light-hearted debate. Would he return to his familiar 33? Opt for the number 3, long associated with his racing family and once used by Daniel Ricciardo? Or would he surprise everyone with a deliberately provocative choice?
Among the suggestions Verstappen jokingly floated was the number ‘69’, a tongue-in-cheek option that amused fans but drew a far less enthusiastic response at home. His partner, Kelly Piquet, was quick to shut down that idea, making it clear she did not share the same sense of humour.
Speaking in an interview with Viaplay, Verstappen revealed how Piquet reacts whenever he mentions the infamous number in public. “Every time I say it in an interview, Kelly just looks at me and says, ‘What are you even talking about?’” Verstappen explained with a grin.
Despite Piquet’s dismissal of the joke, Verstappen admitted he enjoys stirring things up from time to time. “You have to have some laughs,” he added, underlining his playful approach to media attention and fan engagement. However, while he may tease the idea in interviews, Verstappen ultimately had no intention of following through with such a controversial choice.
In typical fashion, the four-time world champion ensured that any mischief stayed firmly off the track. When the FIA released the official entry list for the 2026 season, Verstappen’s decision was confirmed: he will race under the number ‘3’.
The choice carries both personal and historical significance. The number has strong ties to Verstappen’s family, notably his father Jos Verstappen, who raced with the number during parts of his own Formula 1 career. It is also familiar to Red Bull fans, having previously been worn by Daniel Ricciardo during his successful stint with the team.
More importantly, the switch marks the beginning of Verstappen’s next challenge — reclaiming the number ‘1’ from Norris and McLaren. After narrowly missing out on the 2025 title, the Dutch driver is expected to return with renewed determination under Formula 1’s new technical regulations in 2026.
While Norris’ championship success represents a major milestone for McLaren, Verstappen’s response suggests he is far from discouraged. If anything, the loss appears to have reignited his competitive fire. The adoption of a new driver number may seem like a minor detail, but in Formula 1, symbolism matters — and Verstappen’s move signals a fresh chapter rather than a retreat.
As for the number ‘69’, fans may continue to hear it mentioned in jest, but Kelly Piquet’s verdict seems final. Verstappen, it appears, will save his mischief for the racing itself — where his true statements are made not through numbers, but through results.
