“I’LL STAY WITH NUMBER 12” – NO NUMBER ONE IN 2027 FOR NEW CHAMPION ANTONELLI

Andrea Kimi Antonelli clinched his first world championship in Mexico but won't take the number one that comes with it. The Mercedes driver is sticking with 12, the digits that carried him through Italian F4, Formula Regional, and now to F1's summit. His reasoning blends sentiment and superstition — 12 keeps him grounded, and unlike the champion's number, has never brought him bad luck.

The choice puts Antonelli in rare company. He's the first driver since Ayrton Senna in 1988 to win a title running 12, and both scored their maiden victories under the same number. That connection runs deeper this weekend in Brazil, where Antonelli will race a Senna tribute helmet marking 35 years since the Brazilian's legendary sixth-gear win at Interlagos.

While Lando Norris took the traditional route and ran number one, Antonelli is betting that what got him here will keep him there. The title defense starts now, and he's not changing the formula.