For nearly a decade, Max Verstappen’s car number has been part of his identity, and from the bold 33 that followed him through his rise to the No. 1 that confirmed his place at the very top, the number on the Red Bull has always carried meaning. That is why his latest decision has caught the F1 paddock slightly off guard.
As the sport looks ahead to 2026, Verstappen has confirmed he will race with a new number, and after years of running either his trademark No. 33 or the champion’s No. 1, the Dutchman is switching things up.
Max Verstappen Is Walking Away From No. 1
Verstappen arrived in the sport as a teenager in 2015, and by the time he became Red Bull’s lead driver, he had already built a reputation for being fearless and fast. Four world titles later, he is still the driver everyone else is chasing in the modern era of the sport.
For the last four seasons, Verstappen has carried the No. 1 on his car, as the reigning world champion; in F1, that number is reserved for the champion, but its use is optional. Verstappen chose to embrace it and wore it with a great deal of confidence, letting his results speak for themselves.
That option disappeared after this season, as Lando Norris claimed the championship earlier this month and confirmed that he will be using the No. 1 next season. With that, Verstappen had to choose a new number for the first time in years.
Many assumed he would return to No. 33, the number that followed him through his rise and became part of his early career, but instead, Verstappen went in a different direction and has confirmed that he will use No. 3.
Speaking to the media recently, Verstappen explained, “It won’t be number ’33’. My favourite number has always been ‘3’, apart from number ‘1’. We can now switch. It will be number ‘3’. ’33’ was always fine, but I prefer a single 3 to two 3s. I’ve always said it represented double happiness but of course, I’ve already had my luck in F1.”
Daniel Ricciardo’s Number and Fan Reactions
The choice of No. 3 comes with a bit of history, as Daniel Ricciardo was the last driver to use that number, who, in fact, took inspiration from the legendary NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt’s car number, before stepping away from F1 after the 2024 season. Under FIA rules, racing numbers remain tied to drivers for a set period even after retirement.
Verstappen confirmed that he received approval from the FIA to use No. 3 starting in 2026, which cleared the path for the change and removed any awkward questions about respect or ownership.
Hints had already surfaced earlier this week during a GT3 test in Portugal, when Verstappen was seen running the No. 3, sparking immediate speculation among fans. The FIA is expected to officially confirm all driver numbers on Dec. 20, but the direction is clear now.
As expected, fans had plenty to say on social media, with one saying, “Bro will never again win a WDC, 33 is a master number.”
While another said, “Choosing 3 because he doesn’t need 1 to remind anyone who he is.”
Another fan wrote, “Disappointed he didn’t go for 69.”
While another wrote, “bro is ready to add 3 WDC to the fridge.”
Beyond the jokes and social media noise, the decision feels simple and free of unnecessary drama. With new regulations coming in 2026, the four-time champion appears comfortable moving on from old symbols. It may only be a number, but in F1, that has a lot of importance, and for Verstappen, No. 3 looks like a reset as he prepares for the next phase of his career.
