Max Verstappen has selected three as his new racing number for the 2026 F1 season.
Next season will see Verstappen relinquish his ‘number 1’ on his F1 machinery in line with F1 rules, which permits the reigning champion to use that number, of which Verstappen has lost after McLaren’s Lando Norris took the title at this season’s finale in Abu Dhabi.
Norris has consequently opted to switch to the number 1 for next season, ending Verstappen’s four-season streak using that number.
Verstappen previously used the number 33 because his ex teammate, Daniel Ricciardo had selected number 3 since introduction of permanent numbers in 2014 until he left the sport in autumn 2024, with that number having been reserved for his use until the end of 2026 season in case he returned to F1 within two years.
Ricciardo has since agreed to rescind his right to use that number a year early to Verstappen, whose has always favoured number 3 above other numbers.
“It won’t be number 33. My favourite number has always been 3, apart from number 1. We can now swap, so it’ll be number 3”, explained Verstappen in an end-of-season review with broadcaster – Viaplay.
“Number 33 was always fine, but I just like one 3 better than two. I always said it represented double luck, but I’ve already had my luck in Formula 1.”
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