Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen forward of the race. Photograph: 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Max Verstappen will take Daniel Ricciardo’s outdated racing quantity three subsequent season now that Lando Norris has put primary on his McLaren as System One world champion.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 informed Viaplay. “We will now swap, so it’s going to be quantity three.
“Quantity 33 was all the time high-quality, however I identical to one three higher than two. I all the time stated it represented double luck however I’ve already had my luck in System 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 stick to the identical quantity via 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
System One followers can be listening to so much about Enhance, Overtake, Lively Aero and Recharge in 2026 after saying farewell to DRS, the drag discount system that offered an additional burst of pace 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 most important ever overhaul of the technical rules.
The automobiles can be thinner and lighter with narrower tyres and a 50/50 break up on inner combustion, utilizing sustainable gasoline, and electrical energy.
“On this new technology the drivers have extra energy of their palms than ever earlier than,” System One stated in a press release.
“Vital resolution making over power deployment, regeneration and conservation places even larger accountability on them.
“Understanding how they are going to deploy and use these new tactical components can be important in guaranteeing the best appreciation of their talent and race-craft.”
System One stated 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 automotive in entrance. It may be utilized in one go or unfold over a lap.
BOOST MODE is a driver-operated power deployment utilized in assault or defence, relying on monitor place. It’ll present most energy from the engine and battery, anyplace on the monitor, on the push of a button.
ACTIVE AERO refers to movable entrance and rear wing components with Nook and Straight modes. System One says it can allow “strategic adaptability and maximises full utilization of the automotive’s energy via larger on monitor grip.”
RECHARGE can be any alternative for drivers to recharge their automotive’s battery with “recovered power from braking, on throttle carry on the finish of straights and even corners the place solely half energy is utilized.
