Max Verstappen will race with a new car number this season after Lando Norris took over the number one. Verstappen, who has driven with it for the past four years as world champion, now switches to three. Norris, having won the F1 title last year, has chosen to display one on his McLaren. Norris announced in December that he would switch from number four to one, though drivers are not required to do so.

In previous eras, drivers kept their numbers unless crowned champion but since 2014, the rules have relaxed, allowing drivers to switch. Verstappen previously raced with 33 at Toro Rosso and Red Bull from 2015 until his switch to number one after his first title win. The Dutchman's move to number three was approved by Daniel Ricciardo, his former Red Bull teammate, who had used that number. The rules require a number to be unused for two seasons before becoming available.

It has been less than two consecutive seasons since Ricciardo's last race using the number three. Verstappen had to request special permission and then confirm it with the governing body, the FIA, before receiving approval for this campaign.

In an interview with Viaplay about the change, Vertsappen said: "It won't be number 33. My favourite number has always been three, apart from number one.

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"We can now swap, so it'll be number three. The rules state that a number isn't available until it hasn't been used for two consecutive seasons. Number 33 was always fine, but I just like one three better than two. I always said it represented double luck, but I've already had my luck in Formula One."

Verstappen is just the second driver to race under the number three since personalised numbers were introduced in 2014. Previously, numbers were based on the Constructors' standings or set by organisers.

There will be no other major number changes among those drivers coming back from last season. However, some returning competitors to the sport, and one debutant, have chosen new numbers.

Valteri Bottas will take on 77, having long been associated with the number. Sergio Perez is also reunited with number 11, which he claims is a tribute to former Real Madrid and Inter Milan star Ivan Zamorano, his favourite footballer.

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British youngster, Arvid Lindblad, is this year's sole rookie and he will race under the number 41. Lindblad says he chose 41 because it is the closest visual analogue to his initials, AL. He also becomes the first driver to ever use the number, making it unique to him.

The new F1 season will begin on March 6 with the Melbourne Grand Prix in Australia. Event organisers have insisted that recent travel chaos caused by the developing conflict in the Middle East will not impact the inaugural race of the year.