P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Eagle eyed F1 fans spot hidden message in new Verstappen number
A keen-eyed F1 fan on social media discovered a hidden detail in Max Verstappen’s new driver number for the 2026 season, following Lando Norris’ first F1 title victory.
Due to Norris being the current titleholder, Verstappen had to change his number from ‘1’ to Daniel Ricciardo’s former number ‘3’ for the upcoming season.
Previously, Verstappen had carried the number ’33’ prior to his first championship win in 2021.
The ‘3’ design choice attracted attention on social media after a fan noticed a cryptic detail shared by Red Bull’s senior brand designer Behnaz Shamsini.
An intriguing revelation emerged when the ‘3’ graphic was flipped, revealing a hidden ‘1’ inside the number, sparking speculation among fans.
This incident is not the first time Red Bull has been suspected of subtle trolling in the F1 world, with past instances of strategic decisions and symbolic gestures stirring controversy among followers.
