Max Verstappen’s decision to race with number 3 in 2026 signals more than a simple change of digits. It marks a clear shift in tone for the driver who once defined Formula 1’s modern era of control.
After losing the 2025 world championship to Lando Norris, Verstappen will no longer race with number 1. Instead, he will return to his long-preferred number 3, now available after Daniel Ricciardo’s retirement and his formal approval for the switch.
The FIA confirmed that its updated rules now allow mid-career number changes, opening the door for Verstappen to make the move he had wanted since entering F1 in 2015.
In his words, his favourite number “has always been 3… I like one 3 better than two,” a reflection that reveals self-awareness and a readiness to turn the page after years of total dominance.
The end of the “double luck” era
Verstappen built his early career around the number 33, describing it as “double the luck.” That phase now feels distant. His admission that he’s “already had my luck in Formula 1” is telling.
The superstition that once coloured his rise is gone, replaced by a more grounded view of success and competition. Losing the title and relinquishing the number 1 are more than procedural changes; they represent a conscious step away from the aura of invincibility that defined his Red Bull reign.
The FIA’s decision to allow drivers to alter their permanent numbers came just in time for Verstappen’s switch. It is a minor regulatory update, but one that shows how the sport still bends to its central figures. Ricciardo’s early release of #3 and the commission’s timing underline Verstappen’s ongoing influence — not through lobbying, but through presence. Even in transition, the four-time champion remains an axis point for how Formula 1 manages its icons.
Number 3’s deeper legacy in Formula 1
The number 3 carries a layered history. It has been linked with innovators and craftsmen rather than long-term dynasties. Tyrrell’s six-wheeled win in 1976, Jacques Villeneuve’s 1997 title, and Michael Schumacher’s 2000 championship all came under #3.
Daniel Ricciardo made it his symbol of persistence through seven victories and 121 starts. Verstappen’s adoption brings the number back to the front of the grid — but with new meaning. It is no longer the mark of the underdog. It now belongs to a driver rebuilding his supremacy with perspective rather than dominance.
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