Verstappen parks ‘1’, swaps ‘33’ for ‘3’ in 2026 as Ricciardo’s number opens up
Max Verstappen’s car will look a little different in 2026. With Lando Norris taking up the champion’s ‘1’ after sealing the title in Abu Dhabi, the Red Bull star won’t go back to the familiar ‘33’. He’s going leaner: just the ‘3’.
It’s a small change with a long backstory. Verstappen had always wanted the ‘3’ from the day he arrived in F1, but that real estate was occupied by Daniel Ricciardo. The Dutchman made ‘33’ his thing, then spent four straight seasons running ‘1’ as World Champion. Now, with Ricciardo off the grid and not chasing a comeback, the path is clear — and the rules have shifted just enough to let Verstappen make the switch.
Speaking to Viaplay, Verstappen spelled it out: “It won’t be 33. My favourite number has always been 3, apart from number 1. We can now swap, so it’ll be number 3.” Then the kicker, delivered with the kind of shrug only a driver with four titles can manage: “Number 33 was always fine, but I just like one 3 better than two. I always said it represented double luck, but I’ve already had my luck in Formula 1.”
The move is notable for two reasons. First, it underlines an easing in the “permanent number” era that began in 2014, when drivers picked a number between 2 and 99 for the entirety of their careers (with ‘1’ reserved for the reigning champion). Historically, you were stuck with your choice unless you were wearing the crown. Now, a provision allows existing drivers to adopt a different number if it’s available — and crucially, if the current holder is no longer competing. That box is ticked: Ricciardo’s ‘3’ is free, and Verstappen’s camp says the Australian “cooperated” with the handover. No lingering doubt there.
Second, it’s a subtle rebrand for one of the sport’s most recognisable identities. ‘33’ became part of Verstappen’s visual signature as he bulldozed through records in a Red Bull. But ‘3’ has always been his first pick — a nod to his karting days and, by his own admission, a preference for the cleaner look. Don’t be surprised if the merch team is already sketching fresh logos.
Norris, for his part, is set to run the ‘1’ on the McLaren after clinching the title, an old-school flex we haven’t always seen in the modern era. Drivers can stick with their permanent number even after winning the championship; some do. Verstappen didn’t — for four years straight, in fact — and Norris is following suit.
As a reminder of the ground rules: numbers are chosen on a first-come basis when a driver enters F1. If your favourite is taken, you move to your next choice, as happened to a few current names when they joined the grid. The only untouchable number is ‘17’, retired in memory of Jules Bianchi.
In sporting terms, a digit on the nose doesn’t change much. But in the culture of F1, numbers carry weight — they become shorthand for eras, rivalries, and legacies. Verstappen’s ‘3’ will launch a new chapter, even if the man behind the visor hasn’t changed one bit. And if you’re keeping score at home: the ‘1’ will belong to Norris, the ‘3’ to Verstappen, and somewhere out there a Honey Badger is smiling at the symmetry.
