Kimi Antonelli says he will keep race number 12 to defend his 2027 Formula 1 drivers’ title

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Kimi Antonelli has revealed that he will keep race number 12 as he prepares to defend his Formula 1 drivers’ title in 2027, choosing not to switch to number 1 that becomes available to the reigning champion.

The Italian confirmed the decision after becoming world champion at the Mexico City Grand Prix. According to Formula 1’s own account, Antonelli clinched the championship by finishing third in Sunday’s 71-lap race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, ending the season as the youngest driver to win the F1 title at 20 years old.

Formula 1’s release also says Antonelli recorded nine wins this year on the way to the championship, and that he finished on the podium in all but three races during the season.

The decision comes after a rule change in number assignment that has allowed drivers to select their own race numbers since 2014. Under that system, the number 1 is reserved only for the current World Champion to use, while other drivers retain the number they previously chose.

Formula 1’s background notes that Lewis Hamilton continued to race with number 44 during his six title-winning campaigns with Mercedes. More recently, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris chose to use number 1 after their title-winning seasons.

Antonelli currently uses 12, the same number used by his idol Ayrton Senna when the Brazilian claimed his first of three world championships with McLaren in 1988. In his post-race comments in Mexico City, Antonelli said the number’s meaning has only deepened now that he is champion.

“I think I’ll stay with number 12,” Antonelli said. “I’ll stay with number 12 because, obviously, it’s a very special number for me.” He added that keeping 12 is a way to remain grounded and humble, and that it gives him “a new point where to start and build on everything again and try to improve.”

Antonelli also pointed to superstition in his reasoning. He said number 1 “has never been a good number” for him because, in his experience, whenever he used it “it went extremely badly.” He concluded: “So one more reason to stay with number 12. But, yeah, I will stay with number 12.”