Kimi Antonelli visited on Tuesday (the 3rd) the Senna family farm and had the opportunity to climb into a black and gold Lotus used by Ayrton Senna in Formula 1. The Italian driver from Mercedes, recently crowned world champion in 2026, was photographed in the cockpit of the number 12 car, accompanied by Bruno and Bianca Senna, nephews of the Brazilian three-time champion.
The meeting took place during the week of the Brazilian Grand Prix, in Interlagos, and gained a special meaning due to Antonelli’s admiration for Senna. The young Italian races with the number 12 in his Formula 1 career, a choice that also honors the Brazilian.
In the photo shared on social media, Antonelli appears seated in the Lotus cockpit with the historic black and gold John Player Special livery. The car displays the number 12 on the front, along with sponsor markings that formed part of its visual identity.
Bruno and Bianca Senna joined the shot beside the Italian, who was also accompanied by other people during the visit. The image was taken in a covered area of the property, with the historic car occupying the center of the photograph.
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The visit came just two days after Antonelli clinched his first Formula 1 world championship. The Mercedes driver secured the title with a third-place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix, becoming the youngest champion in the history of the sport at 20 years old.
Even with the right to use the number 1 next season, the Italian has already voiced his intention to continue racing with the 12, preserving the connection to his idol and the start of his path in single-seaters.
The opportunity to sit in a Lotus driven by Senna made the homage feel even more tangible, especially because it happened alongside members of the Brazilian’s family.
Antonelli now arrives in Interlagos as a world champion to contest the Brazilian Grand Prix from November 6 to 8. A visit to the Senna family farm adds a special moment to his time in the country, before returning to the track with Mercedes.
