Max Verstappen will drive number 3 next year. He raced number 33 before becoming world champion.
Lando Norris became the world champion, so he can (and will) ride the number 1 all next season.
Max Verstappen should correctly automatically return to his number 33. But from next season, the number will be allowed to change in the sporting rules – it can be done before the season.
Number 3 should normally be unavailable as it was used by Daniel Ricciardo. If the driver leaves F1, the number is blocked for two more seasons in case he returns to F1, which is not so unrealistic. For example, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez will return to F1 next year. They will thus receive their starting numbers again.
Max Verstappen’s official website has confirmed that Verstappen has received the nod from Daniel Ricciardo.
“It won’t be the number ’33’,” Verstappen told Viaplay. “My favorite number has always been ‘3’, apart from the number ‘1’. Now we can change that. It will be the number ‘3’. ’33’ has always been cool, but I prefer one triple to two. I’ve always said it represents double luck, but in F1 I’ve already chosen my luck.”
