Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli visited Ayrton Senna’s family estate, Fazenda Dois Lagos, this week in Brazil. The visit occurred in the lead-up to the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix, where Antonelli will compete as the reigning Formula 1 World Champion. He described the experience as emotional and significant.
Antonelli, aged 20, secured his maiden Formula 1 world title at the Mexican Grand Prix just days prior, becoming the youngest champion in the sport’s history. He finished third in Mexico City to clinch the 2026 Drivers’ Championship.
During his visit to the Senna family property in Tatui, São Paulo, Antonelli was accompanied by his father, Marco, and Senna’s relatives, including former F1 driver Bruno Senna. The estate, known as Fazenda Dois Lagos, is a 200-hectare cattle ranch that Senna acquired in the late 1980s.
Ayrton Senna designed and built a private karting track on the property in 1991. Antonelli drove on this track, with Bruno Senna providing a karting lesson.
A key part of the visit included Antonelli sitting in Senna’s 1986 Lotus 98T Formula 1 car. The Lotus 98T, designed by Gérard Ducarouge and Martin Ogilvie, was powered by a Renault 1.5-litre turbocharged V6 engine.
This car produced approximately 900 horsepower in race configuration and over 1,000 horsepower in qualifying trim. Senna achieved eight pole positions and two victories with the 98T during the 1986 season.
For the São Paulo Grand Prix, Antonelli will wear a special helmet design as a tribute to Senna and Brazil. The helmet commemorates the 35th anniversary of Senna’s 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix victory, where he famously won despite gearbox issues, stuck in sixth gear.
The design incorporates the colours of the Brazilian flag, featuring a yellow base with green and dark-blue bands. It also includes Senna’s iconic ‘S’ logo and a gear-lever gate with the sixth-gear position highlighted.
Antonelli’s connection to Senna extends to his racing number; he will retain number 12 for the 2027 season, rejecting the traditional number 1 for a reigning champion. He cited superstition and a desire to ‘stay grounded’ as reasons for this decision.
Ayrton Senna also used the number 12 during his time with Lotus and when he secured his first world championship with McLaren in 1988. Antonelli’s title marks him as the first Italian Formula 1 champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
The 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix, held at Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos), is the 20th round of the 23-race championship. The race weekend runs from November 6-8, 2026, with the Grand Prix scheduled for Sunday, November 8.
Mercedes has an opportunity to secure the Constructors’ Championship this weekend. They need to outscore Ferrari by three points or more to clinch the title. Mercedes currently holds a lead of 630 points to Ferrari’s 504.
Antonelli has stated his objective for the weekend is to win and conclude the season strongly. He has achieved nine victories and 16 podium finishes in his championship-winning season.
