Toto Wolff has cautioned Kimi Antonelli against being swept away by the fervour of the Italian public, drawing parallels between the young driver and tennis "superstar" Jannik Sinner. The Mercedes team principal spoke after Antonelli's third consecutive victory at the Miami Grand Prix, a feat not achieved by an Italian since Alberto Ascari in 1952, as he outpaced reigning champion Lando Norris.
Antonelli's Stellar Run
The 19-year-old now leads Mercedes teammate George Russell by 20 points heading into the Montreal Grand Prix in three weeks, cementing his status as a genuine title contender. Antonelli's trio of wins—his first in Formula 1—coincided with Sinner's triumphs at Indian Wells, Miami, and Madrid, placing both under the Italian spotlight.
Wolff's Concerns
Wolff, who has overseen seven drivers' championships, acknowledged the intense pressure on Antonelli. "The easiest bit is making sure that he keeps both feet on the ground within the team; his parents have done a great job in keeping him grounded," Wolff said. "The bigger problem is the Italian public. Now that they are not qualifying for football, it is all about Sinner and Antonelli. I think Sinner won in Madrid, so it is the two superstars—and that is something we need to contain."
He added: "There are so many requests for his time. It’s on us to keep the handbrake on that. We just really need to stay calm here because such success for such a young man at this stage, all of Italy will be on him. Sinner and Antonelli, Antonelli and Sinner. We have won three Grands Prix, Sinner is world number one and has won many grand slams."
Family Support
Speaking in the Mercedes hospitality area at Hard Rock Stadium, where Antonelli's father Marco was present, Wolff addressed him directly: "The risk is that he is being carried away too quickly. The parents will keep him grounded, right Marco?" Marco Antonelli, a former racing driver, replied: "Right!"
Wolff continued: "The family and us—you’re the first one actually, Marco, to calm him down even when he is winning—we need to keep repeating the message. This is the long game; he has a killer of a teammate that is extremely fast. We want to play the long game; he can hopefully win many championships over 10 years, 15 years. We don’t want to stumble now with these huge expectations on him."
Antonelli's Journey
Antonelli endured an up-and-down debut season with Mercedes in 2025 after being chosen to replace Lewis Hamilton. Despite speculation that he might not last the season, Mercedes and Wolff remained calm, recognising that his exuberance and occasional mistakes came hand-in-hand with raw speed.
"It is easier to calm someone down that is wild because you won’t be able to accelerate a donkey," Wolff added. "For me, that was his best race so far. It reminds me of his karting days; there were no mistakes. It is astounding these few races. In a way, it is what we predicted as a team. There are up and down moments, moments of brilliance, moments where you tear your hair out—and this year it is all coming together. I don’t think any of us would have expected this kind of run. How he has been able to capitalise (on the car) is special."
