Max Verstappen has expressed his wish to change his race number to three for the 2026 season if he loses his F1 championship and can no longer use number one on his Red Bull car.
Initially, the 28-year-old driver used number 33 when he joined the sport, a number closely associated with him in racing circles. However, he only selected this number because his future teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, had already claimed number three for himself.
After securing his first world championship in 2021, Verstappen opted for number one, reserved for defending champions, and has retained it since then. Now, with the 2025 title likely going to either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, Verstappen needs to decide on his future number.
During the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen announced his plan to switch to number three from 2026 onwards, pending approval from both the FIA and Ricciardo. Ricciardo retired from motorsport earlier in the year after leaving Racing Bulls in the 2024 season.
Verstappen humorously mentioned considering number 69 but ultimately favors number three. He acknowledged the need for permission due to Ricciardo’s current status in F1 and expressed interest in other numbers like 27. Fortunately, Ricciardo is unlikely to oppose the change, as he maintains a strong friendship with Verstappen despite his retirement from open-wheel motorsport.
In other news, Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle by adding HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, along with 135 channels and complete coverage of Formula 1 races. Sky offers extensive coverage of various sports, including the Premier League, EFL, darts, and golf.
Ricciardo recently announced his partnership with Ford as a Global Ford Racing Ambassador, stating his enduring passion for motorsports and the joy it has brought him throughout his career. He emphasized the importance of fun and happiness in racing and expressed gratitude to his fans for their support.