# Kimi Antonelli keeps No. 12 on car after becoming F1 champion _Kimi Antonelli will keep No. 12 on his Mercedes car for 2027 instead of switching to number one._ - Publisher: Apex Sports News (https://apexsportsnews.in) - Canonical URL: https://apexsportsnews.in/news/kimi-antonelli-keeps-no-12-on-car-after-becoming-f1-champion - Author: Atul, Editor (https://apexsportsnews.in/author/atul) - Published: 2026-11-03T13:19:22.161Z - Section: Formula 1 - Topics: Kimi Antonelli, Formula 1, Mercedes, Mexico City Grand Prix ## Summary Kimi Antonelli won the title at Mexico City and will keep No. 12 on his Mercedes car next season, citing superstition and a wish to stay grounded. ## Key takeaways - Antonelli clinched the 2026 Formula 1 title with a third-place finish at Mexico City Grand Prix - He finished with 380 points, behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in the race - At 20 years and 68 days he became the youngest-ever F1 world champion - He is F1's first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953 - Antonelli rejected the traditional No. 1 and will keep No. 12 for 2027 ## Article Kimi Antonelli has won the Formula 1 world championship and will keep number 12 on his Mercedes car for 2027 instead of switching to number one. Mint reported that Antonelli secured the title after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday. The Italian driver finished with 380 points. The championship was decided at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday. Max Verstappen finished first and Lewis Hamilton finished second in that race. Antonelli's third place was enough to take the crown. Antonelli races for Mercedes. The 2025 championship was contested over 24 Grands Prix held around the world. He has won nine Grands Prix since his debut in 2025. At 20 years and 68 days, Antonelli became the youngest-ever F1 world champion, surpassing Sebastian Vettel's record. He also became F1's first Italian champion since 1953, when Alberto Ascari won the title. NDTV said he became the first Italian champion in 73 years. "I'm speechless. I'm trying to process what has just happened," said Antonelli after the historic triumph. "It's been an incredible season, and to share this podium with Max and Lewis is truly incredible. And looking forward to some more battles in the future. This weekend I did feel a bit more tense, but I'm just so happy that we got it done, and now we can enjoy the rest of the season," the youngster said during a post-race interview in Mexico. "I'll stay with number 12 because, obviously, it's a very special number for me, but also it's a way for me to stay grounded, to stay humble," he said. "I feel like by keeping number 12 it allows me to have a new point where to start and build on everything again and try to improve. And also, to be honest, I'm very superstitious, and number one has never been a good number for me. Whenever I put it (on), it went extremely badly. So one more reason to stay with number 12," the Bologna-born racer added. In Formula 1, it is a tradition for the world champion of one season to use the number one on their car the next season. However, it is more of a choice rather than an obligation. McLaren's Lando Norris, who won the 2025 Formula 1 world championship, used the number one on his car this season. Antonelli will carry number 12 on his car for the 2027 season. He finished with 380 points to win the title. He is 20 years and 68 days old. He has won nine Grands Prix since his debut in 2025. The last Italian champion before him was Alberto Ascari in 1953. ### Related on Apex Sports News - [Lando Norris beats Kimi Antonelli to top Mexico final practice](https://apexsportsnews.in/news/lando-norris-beats-kimi-antonelli-to-top-mexico-final-practice) - [Max Verstappen wins Mexico City GP as Kimi Antonelli clinches 2026 F1 title](https://apexsportsnews.in/news/max-verstappen-wins-mexico-city-gp-as-kimi-antonelli-clinches-2026-f1-title) - [Kimi Antonelli misses Mexico City media day ahead of likely world title](https://apexsportsnews.in/news/kimi-antonelli-misses-mexico-city-media-day-ahead-of-likely-world-title) ### Sources - [Mint](https://www.livemint.com/sports/news/formula-1-why-new-champion-kimi-antonelli-rejects-no-1-to-keep-no-12-on-his-car-for-2027-11793703791570.html) - [sports.ndtv.com](https://sports.ndtv.com/formula-1/champion-kimi-antonelli-says-no-to-no-1-on-car-to-stick-with-no-12-12269390) - [Photo: Yu Chu Chin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kimi_Antonelli_at_the_Melbourne_Walk_during_the_2026_Australian_Grand_Prix_(028A7930).jpg) --- Source: Apex Sports News, https://apexsportsnews.in/news/kimi-antonelli-keeps-no-12-on-car-after-becoming-f1-champion. Please cite and link the original article when quoting.