Kimi Antonelli: Two Surprises Ahead of His Return to the Track After His World Championship Victory
Having mathematically clinched the 2026 world title, Kimi Antonelli is gearing up for a particularly exciting weekend at Interlagos. The Brazilian Grand Prix—the first race without the pressure of having to secure a specific result, at least from an individual standpoint (Mercedes still has the Constructors’ Championship to win, but its lead over Ferrari is comfortable)—will feature two special events starring the young Mercedes driver.
The first is a personal tribute to Ayrton Senna, an idol to millions of motorsport fans and to the newly crowned world champion himself. Antonelli has announced that he will wear a special helmet to honor the three-time world champion on the 35th anniversary of his historic 1991 home victory—a win he secured despite gearbox damage that forced him to run stuck in sixth gear during the final laps.
““I’ll have a special helmet for Brazil, for Ayrton,” he explained a few days before the Brazilian Grand Prix. “It’s been 35 years since his victory in his home Grand Prix. It will be a tribute helmet for Brazil and for Ayrton, and I think it’s one of the most beautiful I’ve ever made. I hope everyone likes it. It’s going to be a truly special weekend, and I can’t wait to experience it, because the support I’ve received from Brazil has been incredible—not just this year, but ever since last season.”
But that’s not all. The second surprise directly concerns the look of the Mercedes. For the Interlagos weekend, Antonelli, his teammate George Russell, and all the other team members will set aside their traditional black and turquoise suits to wear a special purple livery, created as part of a partnership with a Brazilian sponsor of Mercedes.
The unveiling took place in São Paulo, at the Palmeiras stadium, and is a clear nod to the history of Brazilian motorsport. The suits, designed by Mercedes, are inspired by the 1980s and 1990s—the golden age when Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna won their world championships. It’s no coincidence that the campaign’s slogan is “Inspired by the Golden Era, Built for the New Era.”
On his Instagram profile, the newly crowned world champion accompanied the unveiling with a simple yet eloquent message: “Inspired by the past. Built for the new. Welcome to the Nu Era. New look for this weekend!” The atmosphere will be made even more evocative by a promotional campaign narrated by actor Gabriel Leone, who plays Senna in the Netflix series dedicated to the Brazilian champion.
