Max Verstappen’s 2026 Race Suit Includes Hidden Message to F1 Rivals

Max Verstappen's race suit for the 2026 Formula One season has a secret message reminding his rivals just how good he really is.

With just six weeks to go until the start of the eagerly-awaited 2026 F1 season, teams have started unveiling their new liveries and race suits for the upcoming campaign.

During a launch event held in Detroit, Michigan, Red Bull Racing kicked of the new partnership between Red Bull Powertrains and Ford, giving a first look at how the car will look in 2026.

Returning to a more classic look, the Red Bull car and race suits will sport a lighter shade of blue to recent seasons, something that has been widely praised by fans.

But that's not the only change that the team has made ahead of the 2026 season, as they've also included a clever message aimed at Verstappen's rivals.

Despite the fact that he didn't win the title, the 2025 season was certainly an impressive one for Verstappen, who was voted the best driver of 2025 by his peers in an anonymous post-season poll.

However, the fact that Lando Norris beat him to the title last year means that Verstappen was forced to forfeit using the number one on his car and race suit in 2026, a privilege only given to the reigning champion.

Having won four consecutive titles from the 2021 season until 2024, the entire F1 grid will have gotten used to the number one being constant reminder that Verstappen was the best in the sport.

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But, even though he can't wear the number one this year, Red Bull have ensured that the F1 grid remain aware of Verstappen's dominance in the sport by including four stars on his race suit for the first time, representing his world championships.

Reacting to further images of the race suit on Instagram, one fan wrote: "I am giving it 4/5 stars …let’s get the fifth one?"

While another added: "Let’s go for the fifth star champ, don’t forget that you’re the best."

The 2026 Formula One season will get underway with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne kicking off the 2026 season on March 5.

Red Bull and Verstappen remain among the favourites to win the Championship titles this year, with reports suggesting they and Mercedes will have the strongest cars in 2026 after the two teams discovered a 'loophole' in the design of their new power units.