Kimi Antonelli will keep racing with number 12 in 2027 rather than taking the number 1 that the Formula 1 world champion is allowed to use.
The Mercedes driver confirmed the decision a day after winning the 2026 title in Mexico. It means no car will carry number 1 next season, for the first time since 2021.
Breaking with recent champions
Max Verstappen ran number 1 after each of his titles, and Lando Norris carried it this season after winning the 2025 championship.
Antonelli has chosen differently. According to The Race, he said keeping 12 helps him stay grounded and humble, and gives him a fresh starting point to build on. He also said he is superstitious and that number 1 has never been a good number for him.
Why 12 matters to him
Antonelli has used 12 for most of his junior career, including on the way to the Italian and German Formula 4 titles in 2022 and two Formula Regional titles in 2023.
When he picked it for his first F1 season, he explained that the number had served him well: "it always went well, so there's no reason to change it."
The number also links him to Ayrton Senna, who raced with 12 at Lotus and in his 1988 title-winning season with McLaren.
What happens next
Antonelli's next race as champion is the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, Senna's home circuit. The race starts at 10:30pm India time on Sunday 8 November.
Race it on Late Brake
Interlagos is one of the six real circuits in Late Brake, the free browser game. Line up in an online race, switch to the cockpit camera and see how close you can get to the gold medal time.
Sources: The Race, Motorsport.com, Formula 1, Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix schedule