Fresh from claiming the Formula 1 world championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix held at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, as Motorsport.com Italia reports, Andrea Kimi Antonelli has already made a surprising choice regarding his future. Finishing third behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton was enough to secure the crown, but the young driver from Bologna is opting to decline the traditional champion's number 1 for the 2027 campaign.
Instead, the machine from Brackley will continue to feature the number 12. It is a selection that runs deep for the driver known as AKA 12, combining his initials with the digits originally chosen to honor Ayrton Senna alongside his family.
While winning the championship is the ultimate goal, repeating the feat brings entirely new challenges. For Antonelli, keeping the 12 is a deliberate choice to ground himself and stay focused on the work ahead.
"Rimarrà AKA 12, resterò con il 12," Antonelli explained. "Per me è anche un modo di rimanere con i piedi per terra, perché mantenere il 12 è come un nuovo punto d'inizio, dove cercare di ricostruire e provare a ripetersi. Rimanere concentrati in vista del prossimo anno."
Senna remains a vital touchstone for the champion, who spent the year studying the Brazilian icon's performances and interviews to understand how to approach a grueling race season. Alongside his family, that enduring inspiration is here to stay.
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