Antonelli reveals what race number he will use to defend Formula 1 title in 2027

Kimi Antonelli has revealed what race number he will use to defend his Formula 1 drivers' title in 2027, having become World Champion in the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The Italian became the youngest driver to clinch the F1 title at the age of just 20 after finishing third during Sunday's 71-lap race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Antonelli took nine wins this year on his way to the title during his sophomore season, and only failed to reach the podium in three races.

Now that Antonelli has clinched the title, the Mercedes driver has a first-time decision to make – what race number he will use to defend his crown in 2027?

Since 2014, drivers have been able to pick their own race numbers, with the number 1 reserved only for the current champion to use.

Previously, Lewis Hamilton continued to use number 44 when winning his six titles for Mercedes, while Max Verstappen and more recently Lando Norris this season decided to use the number 1 after their title-winning campaigns.

Antonelli currently uses 12, the same number used by his idol Ayrton Senna when the Brazilian claimed the first of three titles with McLaren in 1988.

When asked post-race in Mexico what Antonelli would do for 2027, the new champion admitted the number 12 held even more special significance now.

"I think I'll stay with number 12," he said. "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, and 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 1 has never been a good number for me. Whenever I put it, it went extremely badly. So one more reason to stay with number 12. But, yeah, I will stay with number 12."