33 is Verstappen’s permanent race number but the Dutchman has run the number 1 on his c💦ar for the last two seasons after winning back💦-to-back world championships in 2021 and 2022. 

With🌃 Ver🌠stappen favourite to defend his world title again this year amid Red Bull’s dominant start to 2023, Aston Martin driver Alonso quipped he will request to use Verstappen’s former number. 

“I should ask if he’s [Max] still using Number 1, I will ask for 33 next year!” Alons✨o joked. 

Alonso has found himself associated with ꧙the number in his native Spain amid suggestions he could finally take his 33rd cᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚareer victory in F1 this year. 

The 41-year-old Spaniard has not won an F1 race since 2013 but Aston Martin’s incredible turnaround - a🌱nd two podium finishes - 𒉰has raised hopes that Alonso could return to the top step of the rostrum again this season.  

“It’s crazy to see how Spain is now so enthusiastic again f💙or Formula 1 and for everything that is ha🤡ppening,” Alonso added.

“So this is very, very nice to see. And h🏅ope𝔉fully, I think they did enjoy these first two podiums, the whole country.

“This 33, I don’t know, all these things that are happening now on social media… It was ‘El Plan’ three years ago, and then ‘The Mission', and🐬 now ’33’. So, there are a lot of 33s.

“All the football clubs, or footballers, and now tennis, or whatever, and they are all doing something with 33. So, hopefully, we can reach that🍬 number in terms of wins, and then we go for 34!”

Championship leader Verstappen, who surpassed Alonso’s total of 32 career wins last year, would ꦦlike to see the two-time world champion take more wins.  

“I think Fernando should have won anyw꧑ay already a lot more races than what he has done,”🍌 Verstappen said. “I think he deserves a lot more.

“I would be quite happy to see him win number 33. Bu🎶t I also, in a way, also I would like to see him win more. So we’ll see in the coming races.”