Photo: Race Pictures

Verstappen explains his choice of a new race number for 2026

21:36, 17 Dec

Updated: 22:24, 17 Dec

byKimberley Hoefnagel

Max Verstappen will give up the number 1 after 2025 and switch to number 3. The Dutch driver has explained why he won’t return to his former number 33.

"33 was always fine, but I think one three looks better than two threes."

- Max Verstappen

Verstappen has sported the number 1 for the past four seasons, but in 2026, he will switch to a completely different race number."Not 33, no. I still need to think about it a bit," Verstappen replied with a big smile on Viaplay when asked which race number he will use in 2026.

So why is he saying goodbye to 33? "Because my favourite number has actually been 3 — besides 1," he explained, adding once more that 3 is truly his preferred choice.

Verstappen confirms new start number for the 2026 season

"The number will be 3," Verstappen eventually confirmed after all. "33 was always fine, but I think one three looks better than two threes."

He added that he usually enjoys double luck, but joked that he’s already had all his luck in Formula 1. "We don’t need to think about that anymore."

Back in 2015, when Verstappen first had to choose a race number, his favourite number wasn’t available. Number 3 was already taken by Daniel Ricciardo, so the Red Bull Racing driver opted for 33 – a way to at least race with his preferred number in some form.

Verstappen with Ricciardo Photo: RacePictures

After the announcement, Verstappen also made no secret of the fact that he considered the number 69 as a possible option for 2026.

Originally, Formula 1 drivers were tied to the number they chose for the entirety of their careers, but the FIA recently updated the rules.

To race with Ricciardo’s number, Verstappen first needed the Australian’s permission. Under the regulations, a number only officially becomes available once a driver has been out of the sport for two full seasons. Technically, the four-time champion would have had to wait until 2027, but that has now been arranged.

Piquet not a fan of Verstappen’s joke

The Red Bull driver recently joked that he was also considering racing with number 69 from 2026 onwards. "That’s a nice number too," he said with a straight face.

He continued: "Every time I say that in an interview and it gets picked up, Kelly looks at me like: what nonsense are you talking? I say: ‘Yeah, you have to have a bit of fun too.’"