Newly crowned Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Antonelli has made the surprising decision to reject the traditional number one on his car, opting instead to stick with his familiar number 12 for the upcoming season. The Mercedes driver secured his maiden Drivers’ Championship title following a tense third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix, sharing the podium with race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
By clinching the world title, Antonelli also etched his name into the history books as the youngest driver ever to win the championship, while also becoming the first Italian title-holder in 73 years. Despite earning the customary right to display the coveted numero uno on his vehicle as the reigning champion, the young driver chose personal superstition and grounding traditions over the sport’s highest numeral.
The Superstition Behind Number 12
While most drivers jump at the chance to showcase the champion’s digit, Antonelli explained that past experiences with the number one proved remarkably unfortunate in his racing career. Maintaining his preferred digits serves as an intentional strategy to stay humble and hungry for future success.
- Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship with a third-place finish in Mexico City.
- The Mercedes racer became the youngest champion in F1 history and the first Italian to win the title in 73 years.
- Antonelli openly cited past bad luck and superstition as the main reasons for avoiding the number one.
- The driver confirmed he will continue racing with number 12 to remain grounded and build on his achievements.
Looking Ahead After Historic Triumph
Having sealed his breakthrough championship, Antonelli admitted feeling immense relief after managing the intense pressure of the race weekend. The young talent looks forward to tackling future battles on the grid without the baggage of a number that he feels historically brings him bad luck.
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