Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

F1 LIVE | Which drivers changed numbers, Verstappen on Hamilton's struggles

07:01, 19 Dec

byLuke-John Buckle

Hello and welcome to today’s edition of GPblog’s liveblog. Check back to keep up with the latest happenings across the F1 world.

LiveBlog

Three drivers switch numbers for 2026

Max Verstappen can no longer have the number one on his Red Bull in 2026 as Lando Norris won the world championship.

The Dutchman will move to number three, which was last used by Daniel Ricciardo in 2024. This means Verstappen won't return to the number 33, which he used from 2015-2021.

Norris will take advantage of his status as world champion to take the number one, moving away from the number four.

Photo: RacePictures

Britain will have five drivers on the grid next year as Arvid Lindblad races for Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson. Lindblad has chosen the number 41 for his first season in Formula 1.

Verstappen reacts to Hamilton's tough debut year at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult season at Ferrari, failing to score a podium and lagging behind his teammate Charles Leclerc for much of the year.

The seven-time world champion did have a brief upturn in form over the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, winning the Sprint.

However, he and Leclerc were disqualified from the Grand Prix a day later at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Hamilton battled Verstappen for the world championship 2021 and the Dutchman said its painful to see his old rival struggling.

He told Viaplay: “It hasn’t been a pleasant season for him at Ferrari; you can tell from everything.

“To be honest, it pains me. It’s not nice to see. Retire? I don’t know—he doesn’t give up, so he’ll definitely be there next year, but it’s not pleasant to watch.”

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