Kimi Antonelli will pay tribute to Ayrton Senna by wearing a special helmet during the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Kimi Antonelli will arrive at Interlagos this weekend as the reigning world champion for 2026, and he intends to take this opportunity to honor his racing idol, Ayrton Senna.
The Mercedes racer has announced that he will sport a unique helmet at the Brazilian Grand Prix to commemorate Senna, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the Brazilian driver's first victory at his home race.
"I will have a special helmet for Brazil, for Ayrton," Antonelli shared with reporters in Mexico.
"Also because it marks 35 years since he won in sixth gear at his home race. So, yes, it will be a tribute helmet for Brazil, for Ayrton, and I believe it’s one of my finest helmets that I’ve created.
“I hope you all will appreciate it. But, yes, it’s going to be a very significant weekend. I’m really looking forward to it because the support from Brazil has been amazing, not just this year but also from last year.
“So, I’m excited to return there, and I hope it will be a fantastic weekend."
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Antonelli grew up viewing classic F1 races on DVD with his father and mentioned to the media last year that Senna "was the standout driver among them all." He also competes with the number 12 that Senna used at Lotus and during his inaugural championship season with McLaren in 1988.
Having made history as the first driver to secure the championship with that race number since then, he will retain it for 2027 rather than switching to number 1.
"I think I'll stick with number 12," Antonelli stated to the media in Mexico. "I'll keep number 12 because, of course, it holds a very special significance for me."
He continued: "It's also a means for me to remain grounded and humble. I feel that keeping number 12 gives me a fresh starting point to build upon everything again and strive for further improvement."
More from this section
Max Verstappen adds a touch of “samba” to Sao Paulo with a Brazil-inspired F1 helmet.
Laurent Mekies: Charles Leclerc’s penalty “seemed somewhat lenient”
Mercedes to compete in new attire at Brazil GP, honoring a legendary period in their history.
Lando Norris criticizes F1's maximum speed restrictors: “We ought to be able to go faster than a motorcycle with ease.”
Liam Lawson's impressive performance is creating a dilemma for Red Bull as they look ahead to 2027.
