The 2026 Formula 1 season will mark a double reset for Max Verstappen. Following a dramatic 2025 campaign where Lando Norris clinched the World Championship, Verstappen is set to relinquish the prestigious number 1. However, in a move that has surprised the paddock, the Dutchman will not return to his familiar 33, instead opting for a complete identity shift by choosing the number 3.
This significant switch is made possible by a recent update to the FIA’s sporting regulations, which now allows established drivers to change their permanent race numbers under specific conditions. Verstappen admitted that while 33 carried him to his first world title, the single digit 3 has always been his preferred choice.
The number became available following the exit of his former teammate and friend, Daniel Ricciardo. It is understood that the Australian gave his blessing for Verstappen to take over the mantle. “I’ve always preferred a single 3,” Verstappen noted, moving away from the “double luck” of 33 as he prepares for the sport’s massive technical overhaul.
As Lando Norris prepares to sport the number 1 on his McLaren in 2026, Verstappen’s move to number 3 signals a clean break from the past. For Red Bull Racing, heading into a new era of power units and chassis designs with a refreshed brand for their lead driver feels like a symbolic new beginning.
