Max Verstappen can no longer use the #1 on his car; that privilege goes to Lando Norris in the 2026 Formula 1 season as a result of the Briton clinching his maiden title in 2025.
Before he became Champion back in 2021, Verstappen ran with the #33 on his cars but then switched to #1 after beating Lewis Hamilton on the fateful, eventful, and controversial night in Yas Marina Island, Abu Dhabi, four years ago.
Before, the Dutchman explained that, ideally, his race number would have been #3, but that was taken by Daniel Ricciardo when the Red Bull ace joined the top flight back in 2015, so he went with #33 in order to “add double the luck” as he said back then.
Now, with Verstappen missing out on a fifth F1 Drivers' Title, despite his win at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he will have to relinquish the #1, but will he go back to #33?
No is the answer; as with the FIA now allowing drivers to change numbers, Verstappen has the option to take number three.
And since Ricciardo has only been out of F1 for one year, and the number is released after two, the four-time F1 Champion will have to seek a waiver from the Australian driver to use #3.
Apparently, Ricciardo has obliged, and now Verstappen can use that number.
In an end-of-season interview with Viaplay, Verstappen was asked about his number in the 2026 F1 season; he replied: "It won't be number 33.
"My favorite number has always been 3, apart from number 1. We can now swap, so it’ll be number 3. Number 33 was always fine, but I just like one 3 better than two.
"I always said it [33] represented double luck, but I've already had my luck in Formula 1," Verstappen concluded.
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