Even as champion: Kimi Antonelli plans to keep number 12

Kimi Antonelli could earn the right to put number 1 on his Mercedes, but his preference lies elsewhere. The Italian intends to keep number 12 even if he wins the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship.

What Kimi said

Asked by Swiss publication Blick which number he would race with next year, Antonelli first stressed that he still needed to finish the job in Mexico. He then added:

“But I think, once I have achieved my goal, I will continue racing with number 12.”

His comments, translated from German, indicate a preference for retaining his current number, although they do not yet amount to a final announcement for next season.

The number connecting Kimi to Senna

There is a personal story behind the choice. In an interview on Mercedes’ official website, Antonelli explained that one of the main reasons was his idol, Ayrton Senna. The Brazilian used number 12 at Lotus from 1985 to 1987 and carried it to his first World Championship with McLaren in 1988.

For Kimi, the number also represents his own successes. He used it from Formula 4, winning the Italian and German championships in 2022. Another connection completes the story: Antonelli was 12 years old when he joined Mercedes’ junior programme.

Following Hamilton’s example

The reigning World Champion has the right to use number 1, but is not obliged to do so. By keeping number 12, Antonelli would follow Lewis Hamilton’s example: the Briton retained number 44 after his title victories in the era of permanent driver numbers.

Max Verstappen made the opposite choice, swapping number 33 for number 1 after his first championship triumph in 2021. Those contrasting approaches show how personal the decision can be, even when the alternative is the most recognisable symbol of a champion’s status.

The title comes first

Victory in Austin was Antonelli’s ninth of the season and brought him another step closer to his first World Championship. The driver himself, however, is prioritising the task in Mexico over discussions about next year. If he finishes the job and sticks to his stated preference, Formula 1’s reigning champion will race with number 12 in 2027.