Max Verstappen has made a bold statement for the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season by choosing the number 3 as his race number. This decision follows a tumultuous year that saw him dethroned as champion, and it’s clear that the Dutch driver is ready to reclaim his place at the top with a number that holds significant personal meaning.
For years, Verstappen has had his sights set on the number 3, considering it a lucky charm throughout his illustrious career. Unfortunately, Daniel Ricciardo claimed this number when he began his tenure in Formula 1, forcing Verstappen to adopt the number 33 as a substitute. He believed that having two threes would double his luck, a strategy that seemed to work as he raced under that number from 2015 to 2021, culminating in his first world title.
As the reigning champion, Verstappen sported the coveted number 1 for the past four seasons, but the tides turned in 2025 when he faced an unexpected defeat to Lando Norris in the championship battle. With Norris now holding the number 1, Verstappen finds himself in a unique position. While many might expect him to return to the familiar #33, the F1 Commission has recently revamped its regulations, allowing drivers greater freedom to choose their race numbers.
Complicating matters was the fact that Ricciardo, despite retiring in September 2024, technically retained the rights to the number 3 for two seasons. However, in a surprising twist, the F1 Commission has now permitted drivers to forgo these rights, paving the way for Verstappen to finally don the number he has long desired.
In an end-of-year interview with Viaplay, Verstappen confirmed his number change, stating, “It won’t be number 33. My favourite 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 represented double luck, but I’ve already had my luck in Formula 1.” His words reflect not just a shift in numbers but a renewed determination to carve his legacy even further into the sport.
Interestingly, the number 3 has not seen much success in F1, with only two world titles attributed to it since the introduction of season-long race numbers in the 1970s—Jacques Villeneuve in 1997 and Michael Schumacher in 2000. Will Verstappen be able to change the fate of this number and invoke a new era of triumph? As the 2026 season looms, fans and analysts alike will be eagerly watching to see if this change brings the four-time world champion back to the pinnacle of motorsport. The stage is set for a thrilling comeback, and the number 3 will undoubtedly be at the forefront of this new chapter.
