Antonelli reveals whether he will use No. 1 after winning maiden F1 title
· Yahoo Sports
Kimi Antonelli has revealed which racing number he intends to use in 2027 if he becomes Formula 1 world champion. The Mercedes driver is just two points away from securing his maiden title and becoming the youngest champion in the sport's history, but he has already made up his mind about whether to adopt the prestigious number 1 next season.
Antonelli moved another step closer to the championship with victory at the United States Grand Prix, his ninth win of the 2026 campaign. The Italian now leads teammate George Russell by 123 points, while Lewis Hamilton sits a further point behind in third place. With five Grands Prix remaining and a maximum of 125 points still available, only the two British drivers can mathematically prevent him from claiming the title.
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Speaking to Swiss newspaper Blick ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, Antonelli insisted that his immediate priority remains securing the championship before considering his plans for next season: "First I have to finish the job in Mexico. But I think that once I've achieved my goal, I'll continue racing with number 12."
Why Antonelli wants to keep number 12
Antonelli's preference is closely connected to his admiration for Ayrton Senna, who raced with number 12 between 1985 and 1988. The Brazilian used it throughout his three seasons with Lotus before retaining it for his first year at McLaren, when he secured his maiden world championship.
The Mercedes driver has also used number 12 throughout much of his junior career and carried it into Formula 1 when he made his debut in 2025. Rather than switching to number 1 if he wins the championship, Antonelli appears determined to retain the number associated with his rise through the motorsport ranks.
Such a decision would follow the example of Lewis Hamilton, who has continued racing with number 44 since permanent driver numbers were introduced in 2014. The seven-time world champion has consistently preferred the number from his karting days, even when eligible to use number 1 after winning the championship.
Photo: Race PicturesPhoto: Race Pictures
How Antonelli can win the F1 title in Mexico
Antonelli arrives in Mexico City with 365 points, compared to Russell's 242 and Hamilton's 241. His victory in Austin was not enough to secure the championship, as Hamilton finished fourth and Russell eighth, but the Italian now needs just two additional points to put the title mathematically beyond his rivals.
A ninth-place finish or better at the Mexican Grand Prixwould guarantee Antonelli the championship, regardless of where Russell and Hamilton finish. Even tenth place could be sufficient, provided Russell does not win the race.
The title could also be decided without Antonelli scoring a single point. If neither Russell nor Hamilton wins in Mexico, the Mercedes driver will be crowned world champion regardless of his own result. However, a victory for Russell would keep the championship alive if Antonelli finishes tenth or lower, while Hamilton would need to win with Antonelli failing to score.
Should Antonelli secure the championship, he would become Formula 1's youngest-ever world champion at 20, surpassing Sebastian Vettel's record from 2010.