P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Kimi Antonelli was drawn to number 12 because of its links to his motorsport idol Ayrton Senna – but that is not the only reason he will race under it in F1.
Kimi Antonelli chose to race under the number 12 in F1 to honor his racing hero, Ayrton Senna, who made the number famous during his successful career in the sport. Antonelli admired Senna’s achievements, especially winning his first title with McLaren driving the #12 car in 1988. The Italian driver also has a personal connection to the number, having used it since his early single-seater racing days, where he found success with it. Antonelli’s journey to F1, starting from his time in the Mercedes junior program at the age of 12, is intertwined with the significance of the number to him. With multiple junior championships already under his belt, Antonelli hopes to carry on the success associated with the number 12 as he embarks on his rookie F1 campaign with Mercedes.
