Kimi Antonelli is preparing to make an unusual decision if he wins the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship, with the Mercedes star revealing that he intends to keep his familiar race number rather than adopt the coveted number 1. While most recent champions have embraced the tradition, the Italian teenager appears determined to stay loyal to the number that has defined his racing career.
Antonelli is closing in on what could be a historic championship triumph after an extraordinary season with Mercedes. According to the report, the youngster needs to finish ninth or higher at the Mexico City Grand Prix to secure the title. With nine race victories, 15 podium finishes and a sprint win already to his name, he has established himself as one of the standout performers of the 2026 campaign.
ANTONELLI HAS NO PLANS TO TAKE NUMBER 1
Winning the Drivers’ Championship traditionally gives a driver the option to race with number 1 during the following season. Max Verstappen used the number throughout his four consecutive championship-winning campaigns from 2022 to 2025, while Lando Norris adopted it after securing his maiden title at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Antonelli, however, has indicated that he intends to take a different approach. Speaking to German outlet Blick ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, he said: “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.”
The statement suggests that even if he achieves the biggest milestone of his young career, he will not automatically abandon the number that has accompanied him throughout his journey to Formula 1 success.
WHY NUMBER 12 MEANS SO MUCH TO THE MERCEDES STAR
For Antonelli, number 12 represents far more than a number printed on his Mercedes car. It connects his current success to the early stages of his motorsport career and pays tribute to one of the most influential drivers in Formula 1 history.
The Italian began using number 12 when he made his Formula 4 debut in September 2021. He has continued to carry it as he progressed through the junior categories and eventually reached Formula 1.
There is also a personal connection to Mercedes. Antonelli was 12 years old when he joined the team’s junior programme, making the number a reminder of the beginning of his relationship with the Silver Arrows.
Perhaps most importantly, number 12 honours his childhood idol, Ayrton Senna. The legendary Brazilian used the number between 1985 and 1988 and won his first Formula 1 World Championship with McLaren in 1988. Keeping it would allow Antonelli to maintain that connection even if he joins the exclusive group of world champions.
MAX VERSTAPPEN AND LANDO NORRIS TOOK A DIFFERENT ROUTE
The number 1 has become one of Formula 1’s most recognisable symbols because it represents the reigning world champion. Verstappen embraced that privilege during his dominant run, displaying the number after winning the title in 2021 and retaining it through his subsequent championship victories.
Norris continued the tradition after taking the crown in 2025. Antonelli’s potential refusal would therefore stand out at a time when the sport’s newest generation is establishing its own identity.
However, the choice is not without precedent. Lewis Hamilton famously retained his number 44 throughout his championship-winning years with Mercedes instead of switching to number 1. His decision demonstrated that a driver’s personal identity and connection to a number can matter more than following convention.
If Antonelli follows through with his plan, he would become another modern champion to prioritise personal significance over the traditional champion’s number.
A HISTORIC TITLE COULD BE JUST AHEAD
Antonelli’s potential decision comes against the backdrop of a season that has exceeded expectations. His reported 365 points and nine victories underline the scale of his achievement, while his position heading into Mexico places him on the verge of a major milestone.
Securing the championship would make him the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, according to the report. But the pressure remains on him to complete the job, and Antonelli has made it clear that he is not treating the title as a certainty before the decisive result is secured.
For Mercedes, his rise represents the emergence of a new championship contender capable of leading the team into the next phase of its Formula 1 journey. For fans, his decision about number 12 adds another personal detail to a season already defined by his breakthrough performances.
Whether he clinches the title in Mexico or later in the season, Antonelli’s message is clear: winning the world championship may change his status, but it will not necessarily change the number he races with.
And if he becomes champion while keeping number 12, he will send a simple message to the sport: the greatest achievement in Formula 1 does not mean a driver has to abandon the identity that brought them there.
