MAX VERSTAPPEN CONFIRMS HE WILL USE C….read more
Max Verstappen has confirmed that he will compete under a new car number from the 2026 Formula 1 season, announcing that he will switch to number 3 following the end of his championship reign. The change comes after Verstappen lost the 2025 World Championship to McLaren’s Lando Norris by the narrowest of margins, with just two points separating the pair at the end of the season.
Since entering Formula 1 with Toro Rosso in 2015, Verstappen had been closely associated with the number 33, a number that became part of his identity during his rise through the sport. That changed in 2021, when he claimed his first World Championship after a dramatic title battle with Lewis Hamilton. As reigning champion, Verstappen opted to race with the iconic number 1, a privilege reserved for the defending title holder. He retained that number throughout a dominant four-year spell at the top of the sport.
However, Verstappen’s run of championships came to an end in 2025, as Norris edged him out in a tense finale. Norris secured his first Formula 1 title by finishing third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, doing just enough to keep Verstappen behind him in the standings. Despite a strong late-season recovery from the Red Bull driver, the Dutchman ultimately fell short, bringing an end to his extended stay as world champion.
With Norris now set to carry the number 1 as the reigning champion, Verstappen was faced with a decision about which number he would use going forward. Rather than reverting to his long-time number 33, he has chosen to adopt number 3, a number previously used by his former Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo.
Verstappen and Ricciardo raced together at Red Bull between 2016 and 2018, a period that played a key role in shaping Verstappen’s career as he established himself as one of the sport’s leading talents. Ricciardo went on to race for several teams before retiring from Formula 1 at the end of the 2024 season, following a difficult final year with RB.
Speaking to Viaplay, Verstappen explained that the decision to switch to number 3 was a deeply personal one and something he had long hoped to do. He revealed that, aside from the prestigious number 1, number 3 has always been his favorite throughout his racing career.
“It won’t be number 33,” Verstappen said. “My favorite number has always been 3, apart from number 1. Now we can swap, so it will be number 3. Number 33 was always fine, but I just prefer one 3 rather than two.”
The four-time world champion also reflected on the symbolism he once attached to his former number. While he had previously joked that 33 represented “double luck,” Verstappen suggested that his biggest moments of fortune and success in Formula 1 have already come.
“I always said it stood for double luck,” he added, “but I’ve already had my luck in Formula 1.”
Before the switch could be made official, approval was required from both the FIA and Ricciardo himself, as permanent driver numbers are protected even after a driver leaves the sport. It was confirmed that both parties granted permission, clearing the way for Verstappen to use number 3 when the new regulations come into effect in 2026.
The move marks a symbolic fresh chapter for Verstappen as Formula 1 prepares for a major reset under the sport’s new technical rules. While he will no longer carry the number 1, the change in car number reflects his determination to continue competing at the highest level and add to an already remarkable career.
For fans, the sight of Verstappen racing with number 3 on his car will be a notable change after more than a decade of seeing him associated with either 33 or 1. As the grid evolves and new rivalries emerge, Verstappen’s decision highlights both a nod to personal preference and a readiness to embrace a new era in Formula 1.
