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Antonelli will keep No 12 instead of F1 champion's No 1 in 2027

Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-11-02GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration

He says 12 is special, helps him stay grounded and gives him a new starting point from which to build and improve. He also says he is superstitious about number 1.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · · 1 min

Kimi Antonelli will keep race number 12 in 2027 instead of taking number 1, the newly crowned Formula 1 world champion confirmed after clinching the title in Mexico City.

The 20-year-old Mercedes driver became F1's youngest champion after finishing third in Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix. Since 2014, drivers have been able to choose their own race numbers, while number 1 is reserved for the reigning champion.

Antonelli said 12 is special to him. Keeping it, he said, would help him stay grounded and humble and give him a fresh starting point from which to build and improve. He also described himself as superstitious: whenever he had used number 1, he said, it had gone extremely badly for him.

Number 12 is also the number his idol Ayrton Senna used when winning his first world title with McLaren in 1988.

Sources 01
  1. PRIMARY SOURCEAntonelli reveals race number he will use to defend title in 2027Formula 1