Andrea Kimi Antonelli has revealed that he intends to keep his familiar number 12 rather than switch to the prestigious number 1 plate if he wins the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship. The Mercedes driver is on the verge of a historic achievement, but his latest comments suggest that personal loyalty and his admiration for Ayrton Senna could matter more to him than displaying the traditional symbol of a reigning world champion.
Antonelli heads into the Mexico City Grand Prix with a commanding 123-point advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell, with only 125 points remaining in the championship. According to the report, just two additional points would be enough to secure his maiden drivers’ title. If he completes the job in Mexico, the Italian would also become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history at 20 years, two months and eight days old. Lewis Hamilton remains mathematically in contention, but the Ferrari driver faces an enormous points deficit.
ANTONELLI CHOOSES SENNA’S LEGACY OVER THE NUMBER 1
Since permanent driver numbers were introduced in 2014, the reigning world champion has been allowed to choose whether to use the number 1 or retain their established racing number. While some champions have embraced the famous plate, others have preferred to preserve the number associated with their identity.
Antonelli appears ready to follow the latter approach. Speaking to Blick, he indicated that his immediate priority was to complete the job in Mexico, but suggested he would continue racing with number 12 after securing the championship.
His decision is closely connected to Ayrton Senna, the Brazilian legend who remains one of his biggest inspirations. Antonelli selected number 12 when he joined Mercedes in 2025, paying tribute to the number Senna used during his years with Lotus and McLaren before winning his first world championship in 1988.
Keeping the same number would allow Antonelli to carry that connection into the next stage of his career. Rather than changing his identity to reflect his status as champion, he would continue honouring the driver who helped inspire his journey to Formula 1.
WHY ANTONELLI’S DECISION IS DIFFERENT FROM HAMILTON’S
Hamilton also chose not to use the number 1 plate during his championship-winning years with Mercedes, preferring to retain number 44. That number became an important part of his personal brand, appearing across his racing career and business ventures.
Antonelli’s reasoning is different in its inspiration, but the principle is similar. Both drivers have shown that a permanent racing number can represent more than a championship achievement. It can reflect personal history, identity and the influences that shaped a driver’s career.
The number 1 remains one of Formula 1’s most recognisable symbols because it identifies the reigning world champion. However, Antonelli’s reported preference highlights how modern drivers increasingly treat their permanent numbers as part of their individual identity rather than something that must change after winning a title.
His choice would not diminish the significance of becoming champion. Instead, it would demonstrate that the achievement itself matters more than the number displayed on the car.
A HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIP COULD CHANGE ANTONELLI’S CAREER
Winning the 2026 title would represent a remarkable milestone for Antonelli, who arrived in Formula 1 with enormous expectations after a successful junior career. He won the Italian and ADAC Formula 4 championships in 2022, followed by Formula Regional Middle East and European titles in 2023. He then progressed to Formula 2 before making his Formula 1 debut with Mercedes in 2025.
That rapid rise has placed him in a position to challenge for the biggest prize in motorsport at a remarkably young age. However, winning the championship would bring a new challenge: defending it.
Antonelli has generally moved into a higher category after winning championships in the junior ranks, meaning he has not previously faced the pressure of defending a Formula 1 world title. Should he seal the 2026 crown, the 2027 campaign would test his ability to manage expectations, maintain consistency and withstand the attention that comes with being the reigning champion.
Mercedes would also face the task of ensuring that its young star continues developing while managing the competitive demands of a title defence. Russell, meanwhile, could remain a formidable teammate and rival, making the internal dynamic an important storyline for the next season.
MERCEDES COULD BE ENTERING A NEW ERA
Antonelli’s potential championship would mark a major moment for Mercedes, particularly given the team’s history of success during the hybrid era and its continued pursuit of Formula 1 dominance. With Russell also among the leading drivers, the team could find itself managing a title-winning young star alongside an experienced competitor determined to fight back.
The biggest question is whether Antonelli can turn his apparent breakthrough season into sustained success. One championship would establish him among Formula 1’s elite, but defending it would demand consistency, technical understanding and the ability to perform under pressure across an entire season.
For now, the immediate focus remains on Mexico City. Antonelli is close enough to the title that the championship could be decided this weekend, provided he scores the required points and the remaining mathematical possibilities are resolved.
If he succeeds, his decision to retain number 12 would add a personal touch to an achievement that could reshape his career. The number 1 plate may be available, but Antonelli appears determined to honour Senna and remain connected to the number that brought him to Formula 1’s biggest stage.
