When Your Favourite Number Belongs to Someone You Once Destroyed
Max Verstappen’s losing the championship by two points. His reward? Finally getting the race number he’s wanted since 2015. Because nothing says “fresh start” quite like taking the digit your former teammate used whilst you spent years comprehensively destroying his career prospects, does it?
The four-time champion confirmed he’ll race with number 3 in 2026. Not number 33, which adorned his Red Bull for seven seasons. Not some random alternative. The exact number Daniel Ricciardo carried from 2014 through his Singapore farewell in 2024. That number’s now Verstappen’s because Ricciardo’s retired and apparently “cooperated” with handing it over.
What a delightfully awkward conversation that must’ve been. “Hey Daniel, remember when I showed up at Red Bull and immediately made you irrelevant? Any chance I could borrow your race number?”
The Rule Change Nobody Asked For
Here’s how this became possible. The FIA recently changed regulations allowing drivers to switch their permanent race numbers during their careers. Previously, whatever digit you chose when entering Formula 1 stuck with you forever unless you became world champion.
Fair enough. That sounds reasonable until you realise it exists primarily so Verstappen could claim number 3 without waiting the mandatory two years after Ricciardo’s departure. The Australian officially retained rights to his number through 2026 under existing rules. Then the FIA adjusted things conveniently.
Verstappen can’t use number 1 anymore because Lando Norris claimed that privilege after winning the championship. The McLaren driver’s already confirmed he’ll run the champion’s digit throughout next season. Which leaves Verstappen reverting to something else.
Except he’s not reverting to 33. He’s upgrading to the number he actually wanted all along but couldn’t have because Ricciardo got there first.
The “Double Luck” That Ran Out
“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.” – Max Verstappen
Brilliant logic, that. Verstappen spent years claiming 33 represented “double luck” whilst winning four world championships. Now he’s admitting he’s already exhausted his fortune and doesn’t need the extra digit anymore. Very reassuring messaging for Red Bull heading into the most radical regulation changes in F1 history.
Perhaps single luck will suffice for 2026? Maybe he’ll discover that one 3 actually represents half the success? Let’s see how that philosophy works when Mercedes and Ferrari show up with genuinely competitive machinery.
The Karting Number Everyone’s Pretending Matters
Verstappen used number 3 during his karting days. Which is lovely nostalgia except absolutely nobody remembers or cares what number he raced with aged twelve. This isn’t some deeply meaningful connection to his childhood dreams. It’s just a preference he couldn’t fulfil because someone else claimed it first.
Now that someone’s gone, the number’s available, and the FIA’s conveniently adjusted regulations to accommodate the switch. What perfect timing for Red Bull’s star driver who just lost his championship streak.
The Cursed Number Nobody Mentions
Here’s the uncomfortable historical fact. Number 3 has been spectacularly unsuccessful in modern Formula 1. Since permanent race numbers arrived in the 1970s, only two world championships were won with that digit. Jacques Villeneuve in 1997. Michael Schumacher in 2000. That’s it.
Twenty-five years since the last champion raced with number 3. But sure, let’s pretend this is brilliant strategy from someone who just lost his four-year title reign by the narrowest margin imaginable.
Meanwhile, number 33 delivered Verstappen everything from his maiden win to his first world championship. Seven successful seasons establishing himself as F1’s dominant force. All whilst carrying double the luck, apparently.
The Number 69 Joke Kelly Doesn’t Appreciate
Verstappen’s spent recent weeks teasing another possibility. Number 69. Because nothing demonstrates championship mentality quite like wanting to race with a sex joke emblazoned on your car.
When asked about this alternative, Verstappen admitted his partner Kelly Piquet isn’t exactly thrilled with the suggestion.
“Every time I say that in an interview, my girlfriend Kelly looks at me like… what are you saying?” – Max Verstappen
Perhaps stick with number 3, then. At least that won’t require explaining to sponsors why their logos appear alongside juvenile humour on live television every weekend.
The Ricciardo Conversation Nobody Heard
Daniel Ricciardo officially “cooperated” with Verstappen’s number request. Which is diplomatic corporate language for what was probably a fairly awkward exchange between former teammates whose partnership ended spectacularly poorly.
Ricciardo joined Red Bull in 2014 as their established star. Verstappen arrived in 2016 as the teenage prodigy. Within two seasons, the Australian realised staying meant permanent second-driver status behind someone five years younger. He fled to Renault in 2019 rather than continue the humiliation.
Now that same driver’s asking permission to use his race number. What exactly do you say to that request? “Sure Max, take my number along with the Red Bull seat, the championships, and the career trajectory I never achieved”?
Fair play to Ricciardo for handling it gracefully. He’s retired from F1, moved on from motorsport entirely, and apparently holds no grudges about handing over his permanent number to someone who comprehensively overshadowed him.
When Fresh Starts Require Borrowing From the Past
Verstappen’s entering 2026 with new regulations, a new teammate in Isack Hadjar, and apparently a new number. That’s quite the reset for someone who spent four years dominating with number 1 on his car.
Except it’s not really new, is it? He’s taking a number someone else used for a decade. Racing with a digit his former teammate made familiar to F1 fans worldwide. There’s nothing fresh about claiming Ricciardo’s number after Helmut Marko’s departure and a championship loss.
This is Verstappen’s consolation prize for finishing second. He gets the number he always wanted because the driver who held it retired and regulations changed at precisely the right moment. Brilliant.
Perhaps number 3 will bring better fortune than 33’s “double luck” managed in Abu Dhabi? Or maybe race numbers don’t actually matter and this entire discussion represents the silly season content we deserve during F1’s winter break?
