Kimi Antonelli honors Ayrton Senna with special helmet in Brazil

A tribute to a racing hero

Kimi Antonelli’s decision to wear a special helmet at the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix is the most meaningful way to honor his racing hero. He plans to use the Interlagos weekend to pay tribute to Ayrton Senna because it marks 35 years since the Brazilian driver won his home race in sixth gear. Antonelli told the media in Mexico that he thinks the design is "one of my best helmets that I’ve made." He will not switch to number 1 for the 2027 season because he is superstitious about that number and says that number 1 has never been good for him; he will keep the number 12 instead. This number was used by Senna at Lotus and during his first title-winning season at McLaren in 1988. Antonelli grew up watching old F1 races on DVD with his father and previously stated that Senna was the driver who stood out among them all. He will continue to use the number 12 because he believes it allows him to "stay grounded, to stay humble" and provides a new point to build on his success. The support from Brazil has been incredible this year and also since last year. Unlike Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, who both chose the number 1 for personal reasons, Antonelli will stay with his current number.

Sitting in the Lotus 98T

The 20-year-old champion visited the Fazenda Dois Lagos estate in Tatui on Tuesday to sit in the black and gold Lotus 98T. This car is the same one Senna raced in 1986. Antonelli was accompanied by his father, Marco, and Senna’s relatives Bruno, Bianca, and Lalalli. Bruno Senna, a former F1 driver, gave the Mercedes driver a karting lesson on the track at the property, which opened in 1991. Antonelli posted on Instagram that the day was "unforgettable" and he will carry these memories forever. He is not the first champion to visit the estate, as Lewis Hamilton visited the property before the 2022 race at Interlagos. Antonelli also visited Senna’s grave at the Morumbi Cemetery before the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix. He found the cemetery to be a quiet and peaceful place where he spent time reading a book with his coach. He visited the grave in the morning and the afternoon to say hi to the legend.

Mercedes chase the constructors’ title

Mercedes can win the constructors’ title in Brazil if they outscore Ferrari by three points. Antonelli clinched his maiden title at the Mexican Grand Prix, but he struggled with the paddock treating the championship as a foregone conclusion before he ever dropped the clutch on the grid. Toto Wolff held a private meeting with the driver to help him manage this pressure. Wolff told the 20-year-old that the pressure he feels is "no difference" from when he was 12 years old. Wolff noted that the team has built a shield around the driver using family, friends, and supporters to ensure he stays focused. It only hit the team boss that the title was won when he saw Antonelli in the stadium. Antonelli remains the first driver to win a championship using number 12 since 1988.