Handover between former teammates Max Verstappen has become a ‘brand’ with the number #33, but in reality if he had been able to choose the Dutchman would have raced with another number, #3. When Verstappen made his F1 debut, however, the #3 was occupied by Daniel Ricciardo. Verstappen and Ricciardo were teammates in Red Bull from 2016 to 2018, then from 2019 Ricciardo changed teams several times, racing with Renault, with McLaren and then left again for Alpha Tauri-Racing Bulls. From 2022 to 2025 Max Verstappen was able to show off the number #1 on the nose, but in 2026 he will race with the #3 with the ‘blessing’ of Daniel Ricciardo: “When in Austin he asked me if he could race with the number #3 I immediately said yes and I’m happy to have had a say in the matter because otherwise I think he would have had to wait another year – said Ricciardo – I think it’s a very nice thing for all the fans who were fond of me and Max in the Red Bull days.” Max Verstappen therefore didn’t really believe he could actually get back into the running for the title and on the weekend of the United States GP – where he won the Sprint and GP – he prepared the ground for the ‘change’ in numbers.
