Kimi Antonelli, the newly crowned 2026 Formula 1 World Champion, has announced he will retain his number 12 for the upcoming 2027 season. This decision means Antonelli will forgo the traditional number 1 plate reserved for the reigning champion.
Antonelli secured his maiden Formula 1 title at the Mexico City Grand Prix, finishing third in the race. The 20-year-old Italian became the youngest F1 World Champion in history, achieving the feat at 20 years and 68 days old.
His championship marks the first for an Italian driver in 73 years, since Alberto Ascari’s triumph in 1953. Giuseppe Farina was the first Italian to win the title in 1950.
Under current Formula 1 regulations, introduced in 2014, drivers select a permanent number between 2 and 99 for their careers. The number 1 is exclusively reserved for the reigning World Champion, though its use is optional.
Previous champions have exercised this option differently. Sebastian Vettel adopted number 1 in 2014 after his championship win. Max Verstappen also utilized the number 1 plate during his championship reign from 2022 to 2025.
Conversely, Lewis Hamilton maintained his personal number 44 throughout his six championship-winning seasons with Mercedes. Lando Norris, the 2025 champion, raced with number 1 during the 2026 season.
Antonelli cited multiple reasons for his choice to retain number 12. He stated it is a ‘very special number’ for him. The Italian also indicated that keeping the number helps him ‘stay grounded’ and ‘stay humble,’ providing a fresh starting point for the next season.
Furthermore, Antonelli admitted to being ‘very superstitious,’ noting that the number 1 has ‘never been a good number’ for him in the past, leading to ‘extremely badly’ outcomes.
The number 12 holds additional significance as it was used by Ayrton Senna when the Brazilian legend secured his first World Championship with McLaren in 1988. Antonelli is the first driver since Senna to win the title with number 12 on his car. He has also used this number in his junior title-winning seasons.
Antonelli’s rapid ascent saw him join the Mercedes junior programme in 2018. He skipped Formula 3, moving directly into Formula 2 in 2024, before making his Formula 1 debut in 2025. In his rookie F1 season, he achieved three podium finishes and placed seventh in the championship.
During his 2026 championship season, Antonelli secured nine Grand Prix victories. He became the youngest-ever championship leader after winning the Japanese Grand Prix at 19 years, 7 months, and 4 days old. He also claimed his maiden pole position and first win at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Fellow drivers acknowledged Antonelli’s performance. Lando Norris stated Antonelli ‘made everyone else look silly’ with his consistency and ability to outperform teammate George Russell. Max Verstappen praised Antonelli’s solid performance and lack of significant errors at a young age.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali remarked that Antonelli’s achievement marks ‘a new chapter in Formula 1 history.’ Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also extended congratulations, highlighting the national pride in his success.
