Max Verstappen will give up the number 33, used for six years, and will race with the number 3 in the 2026 season, a number previously belonging to Daniel Ricciardo.

Max Verstappen announced that in the 2026 season he will give up the number 33, which he has used for six years, including during the period in which he won four consecutive world titles. After Lando Norris takes over number 1, Verstappen will compete with number 3, previously used by his former teammate Daniel Ricciardo. Although he has raced with number 33 since 2015, Verstappen decided to make this change, explaining that number 3 has always been his favorite. The FIA and Ricciardo have given him permission to reintroduce this number on the starting grid in 2026. Verstappen mentioned that although number 33 was fitting, he prefers number 3, considering it a symbol of luck.