Max Verstappen reveals major upgrade for 2026 Formula 1 campaign

Max Verstappen will begin the 2026 Formula 1 season carrying a different visual identity on track, after confirming a significant change ahead of the new campaign. The four-time world champion will race with a new car number for the first time in years, marking a symbolic reset as Formula 1 enters its next technical era.

Verstappen revealed to ViaPlay that he will drive the No. 3 car for Red Bull in 2026, having lost the right to use the iconic No. 1 following the conclusion of the 2025 season. Under Formula 1 regulations, the reigning world champion is entitled to carry the No. 1, but that privilege now belongs to Lando Norris, who secured the 2025 drivers’ title.

Why Max Verstappen is losing the No. 1

Verstappen has been synonymous with the No. 1 in recent seasons, having carried it throughout his championship-winning run. However, with Norris dethroning him in 2025, Verstappen is required to revert to a permanent race number of his choice.

Rather than returning to No. 33, the number he used at the start of his career, Verstappen opted for a long-standing personal favorite.

The Dutch driver confirmed that No. 3 has always been his preferred choice, though circumstances previously prevented him from using it. During Max Verstappen’s early years in Formula 1, the number was occupied by Daniel Ricciardo, then his Red Bull teammate.

With Ricciardo no longer active in Formula 1 and having been absent from the grid for over two years, the number has now become available.

A first-time change in Verstappen’s F1 identity

The move to No. 3 represents the first time Verstappen will race under that number in Formula 1, despite his long-standing desire to do so. While the change may seem cosmetic, car numbers play a key role in driver branding, merchandise, and fan recognition—areas where Verstappen has been strongly associated with No. 1 over the past four seasons.

Adjusting to the new branding will take time, particularly given how closely Max Verstappen’s recent dominance has been linked to the championship number. However, the Red Bull driver has made it clear that he is pleased to finally secure the number he originally wanted.

Door remains open for a return to No. 1

The change is not necessarily permanent. Should Max Verstappen reclaim the Formula 1 world championship in 2026, he would once again be eligible to race with the No. 1 car. Until then, No. 3 will headline a fresh chapter as Formula 1 ushers in sweeping regulation changes and a new competitive landscape.