Verstappen targets Schumacher-style success with new number

After a rule change, Verstappen may be able to run with his favourite number during the 2026 season.

So far in Formula 1's long history, fittingly, three drivers have been crowned champions using the number 3 on their cars.

Graham Hill was the first to do it back in 1962, and he was followed by Jacques Villeneuve in 1997 and Michael Schumacher in 2000.

So far, drivers racing with 3 also have fewer victories than Verstappen. The Dutchman's tally stands at 71 - eight more than all drivers who raced with the number 3 combined.

In this century, some of the best in the history of the sport drove with the number 3 on their cars, but apart from Schumacher, no one managed to claim the title.

In 2014, Daniel Ricciardo chose the 3 permanently, but until then, in each season, the number was switched around based on performance in the previous season.

Mika Hakkinen, Jenson Button, Kimi Räikkönen and Lewis Hamilton all had the number on their cars, but none of them finished higher than fifth place in the drivers' standings.

Schumacher also made his F1 return in 2010 with 3, where he finished ninth in the championship.

In 2013, Fernando Alonso managed to take the number to second place in the standings, but he finished far behind Sebastian Vettel.

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