Verstappen's 2026 Switch to #3 Taps Into a Victorious Past

Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen will switch to the race number 3 for the 2026 season, a choice rooted in his early racing success. The Dutchman previously raced with the number during his 2014 Florida Winter Series campaign, where he celebrated two victories. This move marks a significant change from his long-standing #33, a number he chose due to the unavailability of his preferred #3 at his F1 debut.

Why it matters:

While a number change might seem minor, for a driver of Verstappen's stature, it's a symbolic move. It connects his current era of dominance with the raw talent that first propelled him into the spotlight. Reclaiming his childhood favorite number after a decade in F1 signifies a new chapter, aligning his on-track identity with a period of early, promising success as the sport heads into a new regulatory era in 2026.

The details:

• Junior Success with #3: In the 2014 Florida Winter Series, a pre-F1 Verstappen used the number 3 to win two races and secure three additional podium finishes.
  • The series, organized by the Ferrari Driver Academy, was a crucial early test for the young driver against high-level competition on American tracks like Sebring and Homestead-Miami.
• A Long-Standing Preference: Verstappen has stated his fondness for the number stems from its "shape," a preference he's held since he was a kid.
• Blocked by a Teammate: Upon his F1 debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso, the number was unavailable to him as it was already claimed by his then-teammate, Daniel Ricciardo. With Ricciardo leaving F1, the number becomes available.
• A Competitive Field: The Florida series also featured future F1 drivers Lance Stroll and Nicholas Latifi, highlighting the competitive environment in which Verstappen found his early success.

What's next:

Verstappen will debut the number 3 on his car at the start of the 2026 season, which also introduces a massive set of new technical regulations. For fans and the sport, this symbolic change will be intertwined with a potentially transformative era for Formula 1, as Verstappen aims to continue his winning ways with a new-look car and a familiar number from his victorious past.