Why Max Verstappen may snap up Daniel Ricciardo's old F1 race number

Verstappen has raced the #1 car while Formula 1 world champion, but may not switch back to his #33 race number next year – if the rules permit

Max Verstappen is weighing up a Formula 1 race number change if he doesn’t win the world title and is unable to keep #1, with an eye on former team-mate Daniel Ricciardo’s #3 race number.

Since 2014, drivers have needed to choose a number they must keep for their entire F1 career, with the only exception being a driver may exchange it for #1 after winning the world championship. Verstappen decided to do so from 2022 onwards after his first title, but says he “needs a lot of luck” to keep #1 on his Red Bull car for another season.

Under normal circumstances, Verstappen would return to #33 without clinching another world title, but that is not a given yet.

When asked during his Dutch media round in Las Vegas which number he will race with next year, Verstappen laughed: “That’s a very good question! I will look at it over the winter, but my favourite number is #3. We just need to see whether that is actually possible.”

This is because Daniel Ricciardo used #3 and has not yet been out of F1 for two seasons. Therefore, Verstappen doesn’t know whether he will be allowed by the FIA to choose his favourite number.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Will the FIA change the rules in time?

However, although that is formally correct, it is based on the rules as they stand. The topic was brought up in the most recent meeting of the F1 Commission, reportedly at the request of Red Bull.

Afterwards, the FIA stated: “Changes to the regulation on permanent competition numbers for drivers, introduced for the 2014 season, were discussed. It was agreed that a proposal for drivers to change their numbers during their career would be permitted.”

When asked by Motorsport.com, an FIA spokesperson clarified that the details still have to be worked out and that the proposal has to be approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council as well. Verstappen must wait for these steps before he can make a final decision.

Asked whether #3 would be the preferred option if allowed, the world champion joked: “I actually wanted #69, but my dad said ‘that’s not a good idea’. But that number always looks the same, no matter how you look at the car! #69 would be very good for the photos and marketing, and for the caps as well. It doesn’t matter how you wear them, it always stays #69. In that respect it would be a good marketing tool.

“I also like #27, but Nico already has that. I think #2 and #7 look really nice together in terms of shape. So #3 is my favourite number, but there are several numbers I find cool.”