Max Verstappen will race under a new number in 2026 – and the change says plenty about how his era just shifted.
After losing the F1 title to Lando Norris by the narrowest of margins, Verstappen has confirmed he will give up the iconic No.1 and switch to No.3 for the upcoming season.
Norris, fresh off his maiden world championship, will inherit the champion’s number after edging Verstappen by just two points.
Verstappen’s relationship with race numbers has always carried meaning. He debuted in Formula 1 with Toro Rosso in 2015 using No.33, a number he stuck with until his dramatic first title win in 2021. That victory over Lewis Hamilton earned him the right to run No.1 – a privilege he kept during his four-year reign at the top.
But that reign ended in Abu Dhabi. Norris sealed the title with a composed third-place finish, while Verstappen’s late-season surge fell just short. And rather than returning to his old No.33, the Red Bull driver opted for something more personal.
“No, it won’t be 33,” Verstappen told Viaplay. “My favourite number has always been 3, apart from number 1. Now we can swap, so it’ll be number 3.”
The choice is symbolic. Verstappen explained that while 33 once represented “double luck,” he feels he’s already had his share of fortune in Formula 1. One 3, he says, feels cleaner. Simpler. Right.
There’s also history attached. The number was last used by Daniel Ricciardo, Verstappen’s former Red Bull teammate from 2016 to 2018. Ricciardo retired at the end of the 2024 season, and both he and the FIA gave their approval for Verstappen to take over the number.
So as Norris steps into the spotlight with No.1 on his car, Verstappen begins a new chapter – no longer the reigning champion, but still very much chasing history. Different number. Same intent.