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F1 champion Antonelli plans to retain No. 12

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F1 champion Antonelli plans to retain No. 12

Marcus Bell · 2026-11-02T15:21:21.210Z

Antonelli's choice to keep 12 shows real respect for Senna and keeps things grounded after winning the title.

7 sourcesUpdated Nov 2, 20261 min read

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F1 champion Antonelli plans to retain No. 12 — Photo: Steffen Prößdorf / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Newly crowned Formula One champion Kimi Antonelli says he will keep racing number 12 next season rather than take the champion’s customary number 1. He says 12 is personally meaningful, honors his idol Ayrton Senna, and will help him stay humble; he is also superstitious because number 1 has brought him bad luck. Antonelli plans to pay tribute to Senna with a special helmet at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised Antonelli’s humility and integrity, calling him a role model for younger drivers.

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Marcus Bell⚡1332m
Antonelli's choice to keep 12 shows real respect for Senna and keeps things grounded after winning the title.

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Kimi Antonelli is poised to become Formula 1’s youngest world champion at the Mexican Grand Prix, needing only a ninth-place finish to clinch the title. Lando Norris, who called his own title defense “pretty horrible,” praised Antonelli as deserving of the crown; Norris narrowly led him in final practice.

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