Max Verstappen will sport the number 3 on his Red Bull car next year. The Dutchman confirmed this during his end-of-year interview with Viaplay. For the past three years, he raced with number 1, but that honor is now reserved for newly crowned world champion Lando Norris. Verstappen previously raced with number 33, but with the retirement of former teammate Daniel Ricciardo, he is now allowed to drop one 3.
Between 2015 and 2021, Max Verstappen raced with the starting number 33 on his car. He would have preferred to use number 3, but that starting number was then in use by Ricciardo. With his approval – the Australian retired from Formula 1 last year – Verstappen can now use his ‘favorite’ number. “It won’t be number 33,” the Red Bull driver said. “My favorite number has always been 3, apart from number 1,” he laughed. “We can now switch, so it will be number 3.”
Starting Number Stress
“33 was always fine, but I find a single 3 more beautiful than two threes,” Verstappen explained. “I always said it stood for double luck, but I’ve already had enough luck in Formula 1.” Earlier, Max Verstappen even toyed with the idea of choosing a risqué starting number; at his Formula 1 debut, he was already considering number 69. “Every time I say that in an interview, Kelly (Piquet, ed.) looks at me like, ‘What are you saying?'” Verstappen laughed in conclusion.
Tradition of the Number 1 in Racing
The number 1 is traditionally reserved each year for the reigning world champion. For instance, Max Verstappen, who won his first title in 2021, raced the past three seasons with number 1 on his Red Bull car. Lando Norris has already confirmed that he will carry number 1 next year. “Such an opportunity might only come once,” he stated after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, it’s worth noting that using number 1 is not mandatory; Lewis Hamilton, for example, consistently chose 44 during his championship years, a number he has carried since his karting days.
