[Saba Sports News] Daniel Ricciardo recently confirmed that Max Verstappen personally approached him during last year’s F1 United States Grand Prix, expressing his desire to use the F1 race number 3, which Ricciardo previously held, in the 2026 season. Ricciardo sees this not only as a natural progression but also as a cool story for both parties and the fans. With F1 modifying its rules in 2026 to allow drivers to change their race numbers during their careers, this opened the door for Verstappen to reclaim his preferred number. Number 3 has always been his favorite, although it was previously associated with Ricciardo. Ricciardo completed his final F1 race at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix and officially announced his retirement in September 2025. Records show that Ricciardo and Verstappen were teammates at Red Bull from 2016 to 2018, a period considered by many fans to be one of the team’s most talked-about partnerships. Now, with their paths crossing again, this number transfer carries additional emotional significance. Ricciardo believes that handing the number 3 to his former teammate is a delightful gesture that not only continues their friendship but also leaves fans who have supported them with a memorable story.