P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Daniel Ricciardo granted Max Verstappen permission to take his old #3 race number for the 2026 F1 season.
Red Bull shared Daniel Ricciardo’s first amusing reaction to Max Verstappen wearing the #3, previously Ricciardo’s number. Verstappen gave up the #1 due to losing the world title to Lando Norris and chose the #3 with Ricciardo’s approval instead of his usual #33. The close bond between Ricciardo and Verstappen made the number switch easy for the four-time world champion. The #3 was first seen on Verstappen’s car during the Barcelona test and on Red Bull clothing at the RB22 launch. In a clip posted by Red Bull, Ricciardo and Verstappen playfully interact with Ricciardo mentioning Verstappen’s “soft hands” and admiring the #3 design. Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies joked about the situation, and Ricciardo humorously described the number as “magnifique.”
