Antonelli to race in Ayrton Senna tribute helmet at São Paulo

Kimi Antonelli has barely had time to absorb his world championship, but his next visual statement is already prepared. At the São Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, the 20-year-old will race in a one-off helmet dedicated to Ayrton Senna, a design he rates among his favourites.

What Antonelli said

Antonelli confirmed the plan after winning the title in Mexico City. "I will have a special helmet for Brazil, for Ayrton," he said, according to the Grande Prêmio report of the post-race press conference. PlanetF1 quotes him calling it "one of my best helmets that I've made", and adds that he spoke of the Brazilian support as "incredible, not only this year but already from last year". The finished artwork has not been shown publicly yet, so details of the design remain unknown.

Why this weekend

The timing is deliberate. Antonelli pointed out that it will be 35 years since Senna won his home race in 1991, a victory Senna took despite gearbox problems that left him with only sixth gear in the closing stages. It was Senna's first win in Brazil.

The link between the two is not new. Antonelli has raced with the number 12 throughout his Formula 1 career, the number Senna used at Lotus and when he won his first title with McLaren in 1988. PlanetF1 reports that Antonelli will keep that number in 2027 rather than switch to the champion's number 1, saying it keeps him grounded. Grande Prêmio also notes that he has visited places tied to Senna's memory, including his grave in São Paulo, without giving details.

By the numbers

He arrives in Brazil as a champion with a big cushion. After 19 races Antonelli has 380 points, 119 more than Verstappen on 261, with 9 wins and 16 podiums in our season data. Six rounds remain, starting with the São Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday 8 November, with practice on Friday 6 November.