Max Verstappen has confirmed that he will race his car in third place during the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Verstappen has driven his car to the top for the past four years as world champion, but Lando Norris will take over that honor in 2026 after winning his first drivers’ title.
The champion is not required to use number 1, but Norris has confirmed that he will use number 1. Sky Sports F1 Earlier this month he will follow in Verstappen’s footsteps.
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Sky Sports’ Craig Slater speaks to newly crowned world champion Lando Norris after winning the 2025 title.
Verstappen raced the No. 33 for Toro Rosso and Red Bull between 2015 and 2021 before becoming world champion.
Previously, drivers had to keep the same number throughout their F1 career unless they became champions, but with recent rule changes this is now possible.
being interviewed Via PlayVerstappen said: “It’s not number 33. My favorite number has always been number 3, except number 1. Now I can change it, so it will be number 3.
“No. 33 was always good, but I liked No. 3 better than No. 2. I always said it represented double luck, but I had already had some luck in Formula 1.”
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Max Verstappen reacts to missing out on the World Drivers Championship by two points to Lando Norris.
A statement on Verstappen’s official website said the Dutchman’s former Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who drove the number 3 car for him, had approved the switch.
Verstappen finished two points behind Norris in the 2025 standings after a stunning late surge that almost won him a fifth successive title.
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