Kimi Antonelli won't use number 1 in 2027: "I'll keep my lucky 12"

Kimi Antonelli will keep number 12 for the 2027 Formula 1 season rather than take number 1 after winning the world championship, citing both the number’s personal significance and a superstition about its alternative.

The Mercedes driver explained his decision after the race in Mexico, saying 12 had a special place in his career. His choice means number 1 will not appear on the grid next season, the first time that has happened since 2021.

Number 12 links Antonelli to Senna and his beginnings

Antonelli chose 12 as a tribute to his idol Ayrton Senna. It was also the first number he raced with in single-seaters, in Formula 4. He is the first driver since Senna in 1988 to win the Formula 1 title using that number.

Keeping it, Antonelli said, would help him stay grounded and humble. He sees the number as a fresh starting point from which to build and continue improving, rather than a symbol that changes with the championship.

That perspective sits alongside the attention now surrounding his title success. The significance of his achievement has been recognised before, including in Kimi Raikkonen’s backing of Antonelli as a future youngest world champion.

Superstition gives him another reason to reject number 1

Antonelli also admitted that number 1 has brought him bad experiences in the past. He described himself as superstitious and said that whenever he used it, things went badly. That history, he added, was another reason to stay with 12.

The same caution shaped his approach to the title fight in Mexico. Antonelli said he did not want to consider the championship settled before the job was done, despite people congratulating him prematurely during the weekend. He felt the repeated congratulations were difficult to handle because he feared tempting fate.

His preference for staying modest has been evident during the season. After a strong performance in Austin, he credited his family and the people at Mercedes when asked about managing pressure at a young age. That emphasis on the team has also featured in coverage of Toto Wolff’s comments about Antonelli.

Antonelli said he would celebrate after the triple-header, with a bigger celebration planned once he returns home after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. He expects to enjoy the moment before heading to Las Vegas, even if the celebrations leave him less than fully rested.