Max Verstappen to Race with Car Number 3 in 2026 Following Title Loss to Norris
Max Verstappen has officially confirmed that he will race with car number 3 in the 2026 Formula 1 season, marking a symbolic new chapter in his career after surrendering the world championship to Lando Norris. The decision comes after Norris clinched his maiden F1 title in dramatic fashion, edging the Red Bull driver by just two points at the season finale in Abu Dhabi and earning the right to carry the iconic number 1 on his McLaren next year.
Since making his Formula 1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2015, Verstappen has been closely associated with the number 33, which he used throughout his early years in the sport. That changed in 2022, when he opted to race with the number 1 following his controversial but historic first world championship triumph over Lewis Hamilton in 2021. Verstappen went on to dominate the following seasons, establishing himself as the sport’s leading force and securing a four-year reign at the top.
However, the 2025 season marked a turning point. Despite a strong late comeback and consistent performances toward the end of the year, Verstappen was unable to overturn Norris’ advantage. The McLaren driver sealed the title with a controlled third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, ending Verstappen’s championship streak and forcing him to relinquish the right to use the number 1 in 2026.
With Norris now confirmed as the driver who will display the champion’s number next season, speculation quickly arose over which number Verstappen would choose next. Many expected the Dutchman to revert to his long-time number 33, a figure that had become synonymous with his rise through the ranks and his early Red Bull successes. Instead, Verstappen surprised many by announcing that he will adopt the number 3—previously used by his former team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
Verstappen and Ricciardo were paired together at Red Bull between 2016 and 2018, a period that played a significant role in shaping Verstappen’s aggressive and confident racing style. Ricciardo, who retired from Formula 1 at the end of the 2024 season following a difficult final campaign with RB, had held the rights to the number 3, making Verstappen’s switch dependent on approval from both the FIA and Ricciardo himself.
That approval has now been granted, clearing the way for Verstappen to officially register the number for the 2026 grid. Speaking to Viaplay, the four-time world champion explained that the choice carries personal meaning and has long been something he hoped to do at the right moment in his career.
“It won’t be number 33,” Verstappen said. “My favourite 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 like one 3 more than two. I used to say it represented double luck, but I think I’ve already had my luck in Formula 1.”
The comments underline Verstappen’s belief that his success has been earned rather than accidental, and that the move to number 3 represents confidence rather than superstition. For the Dutchman, the change is not simply about aesthetics, but about entering a new phase of his career with a number he has always felt connected to.
From a broader perspective, Verstappen’s decision also reflects the shifting landscape of Formula 1 heading into 2026. With new technical regulations on the horizon and McLaren emerging as a genuine championship force, the sport appears to be entering a period of transition. Verstappen, long the benchmark of excellence on the grid, will now be chasing rather than defending a title—something he has not had to do for several seasons.
Racing under a new number may seem like a small detail, but in Formula 1 it often carries symbolic weight. For Verstappen, car number 3 will represent both continuity and change: a reminder of his past dominance, and a statement of intent that he remains fully motivated to fight his way back to the top.
As the 2026 season approaches, fans will watch closely to see whether Verstappen, now armed with a new identity on his Red Bull, can reclaim the championship from Norris and reassert his status as the sport’s defining driver of his generation.
