Kimi Antonelli has decided not to use Formula 1’s championship number one on his car in 2027, despite winning the drivers’ title at the Mexican Grand Prix. The Italian became the youngest world champion in F1 history at 20 and was therefore given the option to run with #1 next season.
Instead, Antonelli will continue with #12, the number he has used throughout most of his single-seater career. He said it has special personal significance and helps him remain grounded as he begins another season as champion.
Antonelli chose #12 in tribute to Ayrton Senna, who raced with the number during his Lotus years from 1985 to 1987 and during his first championship-winning season with McLaren in 1988. The Italian used a different number, #4, in Formula 2 in 2024.
The Mercedes driver also admitted that superstition influenced his decision. According to Antonelli, previous occasions when he used number one ended badly. That may refer to a 2020 World Karting Championship incident at Portimao, where he was competing with #1 when he collided with Maya Weug in wet conditions. Antonelli broke his left leg and foot in the crash, while Weug was unhurt.
The number 12 has also accompanied Antonelli during title-winning campaigns in Italian Formula 4 in 2022 and FRECA the following year.
Ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, Antonelli has announced another tribute to Senna: a special helmet marking the Brazilian driver’s famous 1991 victory at Interlagos. Antonelli said the event will be particularly meaningful because of the support he has received from fans in Brazil, both this season and last year.
Sources: The Race.