World champion Antonelli to honour Senna with tribute helmet at Brazilian GP

Kimi Antonelli will carry a tribute to his racing hero Ayrton Senna into the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, arriving at the circuit as the 2026 Formula 1 world champion. The Mercedes driver confirmed the special helmet design marks 35 years since Senna won his home race for the first time.

“I will have a special helmet for Brazil, for Ayrton,” Antonelli told media in Mexico. “Also because it’s going to be 35 years since he won in sixth gear, his home race. So, yeah, it’s going to be a tribute helmet for Brazil, for Ayrton, and I think it’s one of my best helmets that I’ve made.”

Antonelli grew up watching old F1 races on DVD with his father and has spoken previously of how Senna “was the driver who stood out among them all.” The connection runs deeper than aesthetics — he races under the number 12 that Senna used at Lotus and during his first championship-winning season at McLaren in 1988.

Having become the first driver to claim the title with that number since Senna, Antonelli confirmed he will retain it for the 2027 season rather than switching to the traditional champion’s number 1.

“I think I’ll stay with number 12,” he said. “It’s also a way for me to stay grounded, to stay humble. I feel like keeping number 12 allows me to have a new point where to start and to build on everything again and try to improve more.”

Antonelli described the upcoming race weekend as particularly meaningful given the reception he has received from Brazilian fans. “The support from Brazil in general has been incredible, not only this year but already from last year,” he said. “So, yeah, looking forward to going back there, and hopefully it’s going to be a great weekend.”