Verstappen Seeks #3: Goodbye to 33 in F1?

Verstappen Considers Changing His Number for Next F1 Season

The quadruple champion, Max Verstappen, is seriously considering changing his race number from 33 to 3 for the next season. This decision will depend on whether or not he manages to secure the current championship and, therefore, keep number 1. Since 2014, Formula 1 drivers have been free to choose a number to use throughout their careers. Verstappen chose 33 when he debuted in 2015. The 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. Verstappen has admitted that he needs “a lot of luck” to retain his title and the right to use number 1 next year.

Max Verstappen ha usado el número 33, excepto en la temporada posterior a ganar el campeonato de pilotos.

If he doesn’t win the championship, Verstappen would return to number 33. However, the F1 Commission recently agreed on a new rule that allows drivers to change their race number if they wish. This rule still needs to be approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, but if approved in time for next year, Verstappen intends to switch to number 3, a number that was last used by his former teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

“I will evaluate it during the winter, but my favorite number is 3,” Verstappen said, according to Autosport. “We just need to see if that’s really possible.”
Max Verstappen

Verstappen joked about considering other numbers, but ultimately decided on 3 after discussing it with 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! “The number 69 would be very good for photos and marketing, and also for caps. No matter how you use them, it will always be the number 69. In that sense, it would be a good marketing tool. “I also like the number 27, but Nico already has it. I think the #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.”