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Archive photograph, for illustration. Kimi Antonelli drives his Mercedes during qualifying for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix.

Antonelli to keep number 12 after rejecting ‘unlucky’ champion’s number 1

Archive photograph, for illustration. Kimi Antonelli drives his Mercedes during qualifying for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix. · 2025-09-06Eustace Bagge · CC BY 4.0

New Formula 1 world champion Kimi Antonelli says he will retain the number 12 next season, rejecting number 1 because he considers it unlucky. The 20-year-old says 12 is a tribute to his idol, Ayrton Senna.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · · 1 min

Newly crowned Formula 1 world champion Kimi Antonelli says he will keep the number 12 next season rather than take the champion’s customary number 1, because he considers 1 unlucky.

“I’m superstitious and 1 has never been a lucky number for me. Every time I’ve had it, things have gone extremely badly,” the 20-year-old Italian said after winning the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Antonelli is the first champion since Ayrton Senna in 1988 to win the title with the number 12. He says he chose it as a tribute to his idol. “The number keeps me grounded and humble. By continuing to race with 12, I can set new goals and try to improve myself,” he said.

His choice differs from those of the two previous champions: Max Verstappen switched from 33 to 1, and Lando Norris from 4 to 1.

Sources 01
  1. SOURCEKimi Antonelli houdt startnummer 12: waarom hij nummer 1 afwNieuws.nl