Verstappen swaps #1 for favorite #3 after losing F1 title

Max Verstappen will switch his race number from the champion's #1 to his personal favorite, #3, for the 2026 Formula 1 season. The change comes after Lando Norris claimed the 2025 world title and the right to use the #1, ending Verstappen's four-year run with the prestigious digit. The Dutch driver confirmed the move, opting for a single-digit number he has long preferred over his original #33.

Why it matters:

A driver's number becomes a key part of their identity in modern F1, and Verstappen's choice signals a new chapter after his championship reign. Moving to #3, a number last made famous at Red Bull by Daniel Ricciardo, is a symbolic reset as the team itself undergoes a significant driver lineup change. It reflects a shift in the competitive order while allowing Verstappen to embrace a personal preference he has held for years.

The details:

• Verstappen confirmed the switch in an interview, stating his favorite number has always been '3', apart from the champion's '1'.
• He explained that while #33 represented "double happiness," he prefers the simplicity of a single digit.
• The number #3 was most recently used in F1 by Daniel Ricciardo during his tenure at Red Bull, before the Australian's departure from the sport in 2024.
• Verstappen entered F1 with #33 in 2015 and adopted #1 after winning his first world championship in 2021, carrying it through the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons.

What's next:

The number change coincides with other major shifts at Red Bull for 2026. Isack Hadjar will be promoted from Racing Bulls to become Verstappen's new teammate, while Yuki Tsunoda moves into a reserve role. For Verstappen, the focus will be on reclaiming the championship with a fresh digit on his car, proving that his speed is defined by talent, not the number on the sidepod.