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Kimi Antonelli Rejects #1 for 2027 F1 Season
· Confirmed
In Short: Kimi Antonelli, the 20-year-old Italian driver leading the Formula 1 world championship, has announced he will not use the #1 for the 2027 season.
Antonelli cited superstition as the reason for his decision, noting that the number has never brought him good luck.
"I'm very superstitious, and number 1 has never been a good number for me," Antonelli said. "Whenever I put it, it went extremely badly," he added.
Antonelli's reluctance to discuss his championship prospects is also rooted in superstition. "They’ve thrown so many curses at me these days. I never mention it," he said.
Despite his superstitions, Antonelli remains focused on his performance. "To get there, I have to win, take one race at a time," he stated.
Antonelli's rise to the top of the Drivers' standings has been meteoric. He currently leads with a 41-point lead over Lewis Hamilton, a position he owes to his incredible stretch of five consecutive victories.
"The team analyzed the data and saw some interesting things from the new update package," Antonelli explained, referring to his recent success.
While others have drawn comparisons to legendary drivers like Ayrton Senna, Antonelli is quick to distance himself from such comparisons. "I just feel like it's not really fair to get compared to him, especially at this stage of my career," he said.
Antonelli's journey in Formula 1 began under the guidance of his father, Marco, a sports car driver and team owner, in Bologna.
"Get in there, Kimi. Champion of the world," said his race engineer Peter Bonnington, who has been a regular target for Antonelli’s practical jokes.
Antonelli's performance has been impressive, even when he's not feeling his best. He stormed to victory at the Italian Grand Prix despite starting 19th on the grid.
"We did it. Thank you so much," an emotional Antonelli said on the team radio after taking the checkered flag.
Antonelli's superstitions and focus on performance have made him a unique figure in the sport, setting him apart from other drivers.
What this adds
Antonelli would not use the #1 for the 2027 season due to superstition and past bad luck.
Background
Formula 1 world champion Kimi Antonelli will not use the #1 for the 2027 season, citing superstition and past bad luck.
What's confirmed
- “Get in there, Kimi. Champion of the world,” said his race engineer Peter Bonnington, a regular target for the young driver’s practical jokes.
What's still developing
- (GMM) Kimi Antonelli (pictured) is trying hard not to talk about his first Formula 1 title match point in Austin – and admits superstition is part of the reason.
- “No, actually, I’m pumped,” said the 20-year-old Italian.
- Asked by Corriere della Sera whether he had fully realized he could become world champion on Sunday, Antonelli immediately pushed back.
- When asked again about the championship, Antonelli stuck to his preferred theme.
- “Yeah, but I react. I always touch wood to be safe. It’s not going to happen, but if it does…” Antonelli said the atmosphere does not feel especially different this weekend despite the title situation.
- Michael Delaney 23/06/2026 at 10:34 23/06/2026 at 15:00 Kimi Antonelli is leading the Formula 1 world championship, winning races at a relentless rate and forcing rivals to rethink their expectations of what a rookie can achieve.
- Yet while others search for historical comparisons, Antonelli is making it clear he has no interest in being presented as the next Ayrton Senna.
- Antonelli has become the sport's hottest rising star, possesses a fearless driving style and, to many fans, even bears a striking resemblance to the three-time world champion.
- George Russell finished sixth in the Mexico City GP as his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli sealed the Drivers' Championship; Mercedes were fined after excusing Russell from carrying out his post-race media duties; Toto Wolff says Russell was "distraught" after the "catastrophic moment" Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Toto Wolff has revealed that Mercedes excused George Russell from carrying out his post-Mexico City Grand Prix media duties because the British driver was "distraught" after seeing his team-mate Kimi Antonelli clinch the Drivers' Championship.
- Antonelli, by comparison, is cruising to the title and set to clinch it after 19 rounds.
- Kimi Antonelli has been operating while under the weather this weekend in Mexico City.
- Antonelli held onto his lead at the start of the 56-lap race as second-placed Verstappen suffered a poor getaway.