Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen forward of the race. Picture: REUTERS
LONDON:
Max Verstappen will take Daniel Ricciardo’s outdated racing quantity three subsequent season now that Lando Norris has put primary on his McLaren as Formulation One world champion.
Crimson Bull’s four-times world champion raced with the 33 till his first title in 2021, the quantity additionally showing on a mess of caps and shirts — and even some fan tattoos.
“My favorite quantity has all the time been three, aside from primary,” the Dutch driver advised Viaplay. “We are able to now swap, so it will be quantity three.
“Quantity 33 was all the time wonderful, however I identical to one three higher than two. I all the time mentioned it represented double luck however I’ve already had my luck in Formulation One.”
Australian Ricciardo was Verstappen’s Crimson Bull teammate from 2016-18 however has now retired. The governing FIA and driver have given permission for the quantity three for use once more.
Drivers beforehand needed to follow the identical quantity by their careers and should not have raced for 2 consecutive seasons earlier than it may be reassigned. Ricciardo final raced in Singapore in September final yr.
Norris confirmed this month that he was swapping his quantity 4 for the champion’s one.
New phrases for 2026
Formulation One followers will probably be listening to loads about Increase, Overtake, Energetic Aero and Recharge in 2026 after saying farewell to DRS, the drag discount system that supplied an additional burst of velocity for overtaking.
The Liberty Media-owned sport introduced revised terminology on Wednesday to accompany the beginning of a brand new engine period and what it’s calling the largest ever overhaul of the technical rules.
The automobiles will probably be thinner and lighter with narrower tyres and a 50/50 cut up on inner combustion, utilizing sustainable gas, and electrical energy.
“On this new technology the drivers have extra energy of their fingers than ever earlier than,” Formulation One mentioned in an announcement.
“Crucial choice making over vitality deployment, regeneration and conservation places even higher duty on them.
“Understanding how they are going to deploy and use these new tactical components will probably be important in guaranteeing the best appreciation of their talent and race-craft.”
Formulation One mentioned it wished to keep away from ‘gimmicks and jargon’ and had finalised an inventory of latest phrases after consulting the governing FIA, groups, engineers and followers new and outdated.
OVERTAKE MODE replaces DRS, a strategic software giving additional energy for overtaking to drivers who’re inside a second of the automobile in entrance. It may be utilized in one go or unfold over a lap.
BOOST MODE is a driver-operated vitality deployment utilized in assault or defence, relying on observe place. It should present most energy from the engine and battery, anyplace on the observe, on the push of a button.
ACTIVE AERO refers to movable entrance and rear wing components with Nook and Straight modes. Formulation One says it’s going to allow “strategic adaptability and maximises full utilization of the automobile’s energy by higher on observe grip.”
RECHARGE will probably be any alternative for drivers to recharge their automobile’s battery with “recovered vitality from braking, on throttle carry on the finish of straights and even corners the place solely half energy is utilized.
