F1 | Toto Wolff warns of growing pressure on Kimi Antonelli amid Italian media hype. Toto Wolff warns about the growing pressure on Kimi Antonelli after his F1 success.

The head of Mercedes is determined to protect his Formula 1 world championship leader.

Italy rises again

While Ferrari is currently showing no signs of a resurgence, the return of the Italian anthem to the Formula 1 podium has been secured by Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has delivered a remarkable winning streak with three consecutive victories in China, Japan, and Miami.

The 19-year-old from Bologna is now the new leader of the world championship and is becoming an increasingly recognised and familiar figure among Italian fans, gradually expanding his profile beyond the boundaries of motorsport.

Wolff protects Kimi

Following the Miami victory, which saw Antonelli extend his lead in the drivers’ championship standings to +20 over George Russell, Toto Wolff adopted a cautious tone and appeared more determined than ever to calm the growing excitement surrounding his young driver.

“The easiest part is making sure he keeps his feet on the ground within the team, and in that sense his parents have done an excellent job,” Wolff began, before adding: “The biggest problem is the Italian public. Now that they did not qualify for the World Cup, the only things people talk about are Sinner and Antonelli. I think Sinner won in Madrid, they are two superstars and this is something we need to contain.”

Toto Wolff continued: “There are so many requests that are taking up his time. It is up to us to keep the handbrake on. We really need to stay calm. Success like this for such a young driver means that all of Italy will have its eyes on him.”

The comparison between Andrea Kimi Antonelli and tennis star Jannik Sinner highlights a rare moment in Italian sporting history where two individual athletes are carrying the hopes of a nation traditionally obsessed with football. Toto Wolff’s proactive stance on “pulling the handbrake” suggests that Mercedes views the psychological management of Antonelli as a key performance factor. By shielding him from the intense Italian media circus, the team hopes to allow the championship leader to maintain the same clinical composure that has allowed him to outpace more experienced rivals during this extraordinary 2026 run.