Max Verstappen expressed his interest in changing his race number to three for the 2026 season if he loses his F1 title and can no longer use number one on his Red Bull car. Initially, Verstappen used number 33 when he joined Formula One, a number that became closely associated with him in racing circles as Daniel Ricciardo had already claimed number three for himself.
Following his first world championship win in 2021, Verstappen switched to number one, exclusive to defending champions, and has kept it since. However, with the 2025 championship likely going to either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, Verstappen must decide on his number preference.
During the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen disclosed his plan to adopt number three starting from 2026, pending approval from the FIA and Ricciardo. Ricciardo, who retired from motorsport earlier, is unlikely to oppose the switch as he maintains a strong friendship with Verstappen.
Verstappen humorously mentioned his preference for number 69 but acknowledged that number three is his favorite. He also considered numbers 27, 2, and 7 as appealing choices. Sky recently enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, along with 135 channels and comprehensive Formula 1 coverage.
Ricciardo, in an open letter to fans, explained his decision to partner with Ford as a Global Ford Racing Ambassador after retiring, emphasizing his enduring love for motorsports and the joy it brought him.