Verstappen Seeks New Number for Next F1 Season
The quadruple champion, Max Verstappen, is considering a significant change for the next Formula 1 season. If he fails to secure the current championship and, therefore, cannot keep the number 1, the Dutch driver plans to adopt the number 3 on his single-seater. Since 2014, F1 drivers have been free to choose a number to use throughout their careers. Verstappen chose 33 when he debuted in 2015.Number 1 is reserved for the reigning champion, and Verstappen has used it since 2022, after winning his first title in 2021. Currently, the Red Bull driver is 49 points behind the championship leader, Lando Norris, with three races remaining.
A new rule recently approved will allow drivers to change their race number if they wish. If the rule is approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, Verstappen intends to use number 3, which was last used by his former teammate Daniel Ricciardo. “I’ll consider it over the winter, but my favorite number is 3,” said Verstappen. “We just need to see if that’s really possible.” Verstappen joked that he also considered other numbers, but decided on 3 after talking to his father, Jos. “Actually, I wanted the number 69, but my father said ‘that’s not a good idea’,” Verstappen added. “But that number always looks the same, no matter how you look at the car! Number 69 would be very good for photos and marketing, and also for caps. No matter how you use them, the number 69 always stays the same. In that sense, it would be a good marketing tool. I also like the number 27, but Nico already has it. I think #2 and #7 look very good together in terms of shape. So number 3 is my favorite number, but there are several numbers that I think are great.”“I need a lot of luck” to retain his title.
Max Verstappen
