Antonelli says his 2027 title defence starts at Sao Paulo

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who became Formula 1's youngest world champion in Mexico City last weekend, says he is treating the final races of the season as the start of his bid to retain the title next year.

Antonelli, 20, said he wanted to finish the season strongly to build confidence ahead of 2027. He is wearing a new helmet design paying tribute to Ayrton Senna at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, having earlier visited the Senna family and sat in one of the three-time champion's 1980s Lotus cars.

Antonelli said the title still felt surreal and that he would have liked more time to reflect on it. He described being lifted onto the podium in Mexico by Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton as very special.