Kimi Antonelli reveals if he will choose driver number '1' as F1 champion

Kimi Antonelli has revealed he will stick with the number '12' for 2027, even if he enters the year as the reigning champion.

Drivers who win the title are eligible to use number '1', as it is solely reserved for the driver who most recently topped the standings.

This year, it is being run by McLaren's Lando Norris, who clinched his maiden title at last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Briton took over the rights to the number from Max Verstappen, who had it attached to his Red Bull from 2022 to 2025 during his years as the reigning champion.

Antonelli enters this weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix with a high chance of securing the title, needing only ninth on the road on Sunday to become the sport's youngest ever champion.

He will then be able to choose his number for 2027, but the Italian has no interest in changing.

"First, I have to get the job done in Mexico. But I think that once that's done, I'll still be racing with number 12," Antonelli told Blick.

The only driver who previously passed up on the option to run number 1 as the champion since the introduction of the rule in 2014 was Lewis Hamilton, who retained '44' during his successful stint with Mercedes.

Antonelli has several reasons why the number 12 is so special to him. First, it's a tribute to his great idol: Ayrton Senna.

The Brazilian raced with that number between 1985 and 1988 and also won his first world title with it at McLaren.

In addition, 12 was also Antonelli's starting number when he made his debut in Formula 4, his first experience in a formula car. Furthermore, he was 12 years old when he was accepted into Mercedes' junior program.