Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 champion, is set to alter his F1 driver number in the upcoming 2026 season as the competitive landscape shifts. The Dutch driver, who has consecutively won four drivers‘ championships, faces a difficult season in 2025 that has diminished his chances of securing a fifth title amid strong challenges.
After 14 races of the 2025 season, Verstappen finds himself in third place with 187 points following internal team changes at Red Bull, including a swap in teammates and a new team principal. Meanwhile, rival team McLaren has surged ahead, dominating the constructors‘ standings and showcasing two drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who are currently in contention for the drivers’ title.
The Shift in F1 Driver Number Regulations and What It Means for Verstappen
Historically, Formula 1 driver numbers were distributed based on the teams‘ finishing positions in the previous championship year, but this method was replaced in 2014 by a system allowing drivers to pick personal numbers. These chosen numbers stay with a driver throughout their career unless they win the world championship, which gives them the option to adopt the No. 1 number.
Should either Piastri or Norris win the championship in 2025, Verstappen will relinquish the No. 1 driver number, which he currently uses to mark his title status. He would then revert to his prior number, 33, which he has used before ascending to champion status. Although entitled to keep the No. 1 badge as champion, not every driver chooses to do so, as seen in the case of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.
Personal Connections Influence Driver Number Choices in F1
Lewis Hamilton has consistently returned to his original number 44 for every season as world champion since the 2014 rule change, citing personal meaning behind the choice. He once explained the significance of the number, stating,
“It’s the number that my family recognised the most, it’s the number that has been loyal to me and to my fans,”
—Lewis Hamilton, F1 World Champion
In contrast, Verstappen adopted No. 33 as his driver number after his preferred number 3 was already taken by Daniel Ricciardo, who drives for another team within the paddock.
Current Title Battle Signals an Evolving F1 Hierarchy
The 2025 season’s developments signal a potential power shift within Formula 1, with Red Bull’s dominance challenged by the ascending McLaren squad. Verstappen’s drop in the championship standings coincides with growing momentum from McLaren’s drivers, intensifying the battle for the drivers’ championship as the season progresses towards its final rounds.
This looming change will not only affect Verstappen’s driver number but also mark a significant moment in F1’s recent history, where a fresh champion may emerge, ending the Dutchman’s current reign. The adaptation of driver numbers emphasizes the evolving personal and competitive narratives prevalent in the sport today.
