Max Verstappen wants key change to his car but Daniel Ricciardo could stop switch | F1 | Sport
Max Verstappen has expressed his interest in changing his race number to three for the 2026 season, should he miss out on the F1 title and lose his right to deploy the number one on the front of his Red Bull car.
The 28-year-old utilised the number 33 when he joined the sport, which has since become synonymous with Verstappen in motorsport circles. However, he only did so as future team-mate Daniel Ricciardo had already snatched the number three for his own personal use.
When Verstappen became world champion in 2021, he accepted the offer of the number one, which is reserved for reigning title winners, and has used it ever since. However, with the 2025 crown seemingly heading to either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, the Red Bull racer faces a choice.
At the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen expressed that he plans to switch to the number three in 2026 and beyond, although he will need approval from both the FIA and Ricciardo to make the change. The Australian racer announced his retirement from motorsport earlier this year after leaving Racing Bulls late in the 2024 campaign.
“That’s a good question,” the Dutchman replied when quizzed about a future switch. “You have to get approval for it because, at the end of the day, the number is not free yet because of Daniel Ricciardo. He has not been out of Formula One for two years yet.” He added: “I will look at it over the winter, but my favourite number is #3. We just need to see whether that is actually possible.”
The Red Bull star jokingly added: “I actually wanted number 69, but my dad said ‘that’s not a good idea’. But that number always looks the same, no matter how you look at the car! 69 would be very good for the photos and marketing, and for the caps as well.
“It doesn’t matter how you wear them, it always stays 69. In that respect, it would be a good marketing tool. I also like 27, but Nico already has that. I think 2 and 7 look really nice together in terms of shape. So 3 is my favourite number, but there are several numbers I find cool.”
Fortunately for Verstappen, Ricciardo is unlikely to stand in his way. The Australian maintained a close friendship with his former Red Bull team-mate following his move to Renault, and remains allies with the 28-year-old to this day, despite his retirement from open-wheel racing.
