Max Verstappen is just a step away from landing his favourite number three on his Red Bull Racing car for the 2026 season after the FIA confirmed to GPblog this Thursday that the new race number rules have now been finalised.

The Dutchman will no longer be able to race with the number one emblazoned on his machine in 2026 after Lando Norris became World Champion.

However, from next season, Formula 1 drivers will be allowed to change their race numbers during their careers, and after Verstappen already confirmed that he does not wish to return to his original number 33, the 28-year-old is now very close to changing his number.

A review of Mercedes' power unit supply will take place, according to CEO, team principal and co-owner Toto Wolff.

For the 2026 season, McLaren, Williams and Alpine are set to have engines from the German team in their machines, with Aston Martin moving to Honda engines in 2026.

However, Wolff stated Mercedes may be looking to cut a team or two from its list of F1 customers.

“Our current mindset is, also discussing with Ola, that we will reduce the number of teams we’re going to supply in the next cycle,” the Austrian told the Beyond the Grid podcast, noting that “between two and three” customer teams would be the sweet spot.

It's been a hugely successful 2025 for McLaren with their drivers' and construcotrs' title triumphs. However, not everyone on social media has been full of praise.

Hollywood actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan,  best known for his role in the hit TV series The Walking Dead, had some choice words for McLaren CEO Zak Brown, calling the American "such a weanie" and that he "deserves s**t all".

There was also some mocking of Lando Norris and his 'underdog story' from a hit BBC TV show. That saw former World Champion Damon Hill come to the defence of the Brit, calling it 'pathetic'.