Antonelli reveals race number he will use to defend title in 2027

Kimi Antonelli has revealed that he will stick with his iconic number 12 rather than switching to number 1 for his title defense in 2027, following his historic Formula 1 World Championship victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Italian driver secured the title at just 20 years old after a stellar sophomore season with Mercedes, claiming nine victories and finishing off the podium only three times. While reigning champions are entitled to use the prestigious number 1, Antonelli explained that keeping his idol Ayrton Senna's number 12 helps him stay grounded, provides a fresh foundation for future improvement, and avoids past superstitious bad luck associated with the number 1.