Max Verstappen will have different stickers attached to his car this year – and he sought Daniel Ricciardo’s permission to do so!
Max Verstappen revealed that he and Daniel Ricciardo discussed him taking over his former team-mate’s race number this year.
Ricciardo had chosen number ‘3’ in 2014 and used it throughout his F1 career until 2024.
Verstappen had previously used ’33’ before switching to ‘1’ in 2022 as the reigning champion, but had to give it up after Lando Norris won the 2025 drivers’ standings.
Instead of reverting to 33, Verstappen sought permission from Ricciardo to take number ‘3’, which he gladly granted.
Red Bull applied for an exemption from the FIA regarding the rule that requires a driver to be two years out of F1 before reclaiming a number, successfully securing the change.
Verstappen expressed his gratitude towards Ricciardo for allowing him to have his favorite number back from the old days.
