Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has praised Andrea Kimi Antonelli following his maiden Formula 1 world championship triumph, declaring that the Italian has proved it is possible to beat anyone while remaining a good person. The Austrian also delivered a pointed message to other F1 drivers, arguing that the traditional image of the selfish, ruthless competitor belongs to the past.
After watching the 20-year-old secure the world title at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, Toto Wolff reflected on the qualities that make the new champion special, the decision to promote him following Lewis Hamilton’s departure for Ferrari, and the doubts that surrounded his early career. He also revealed a private conversation with Andrea Kimi Antonelli during the decisive race weekend, when the pressure of potentially becoming world champion had begun to weigh heavily on the Mercedes driver.
Toto Wolff praises Kimi Antonelli and criticises selfish Formula 1 drivers
Toto Wolff waited until Andrea Kimi Antonelli had become world champion before addressing some of the criticism that had surrounded Mercedes’ decision to promote the young Italian two years earlier. His intention was not simply to vindicate a controversial choice, but to highlight the values he believes distinguish the new Formula 1 champion.
For the Mercedes team principal, Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s talent, speed and remarkable maturity at just 20 years old tell only part of the story. Equally important are the personal qualities that Toto Wolff believes should play a greater role in modern motorsport.
“The idea of winning at any cost, of being selfish, opportunistic and ruthless for your own benefit, belongs to the past. That model of driver is dead. We have a new champion who represents values such as humility, integrity, loyalty and respect.
“Kimi should be an example to many young drivers in the junior categories, but also to some Formula 1 drivers who feel privileged. Those who constantly complain over the radio, those who protest, those who crash into others. Look at this 20-year-old and ask yourselves what you could do to improve.”
Toto Wolff did not identify any drivers by name, but the message was unmistakable. His comments went beyond celebrating Mercedes’ latest championship success, presenting Andrea Kimi Antonelli as an example of how a Formula 1 champion should behave.
“This is modern Formula 1. Kimi represents it not only through his talent, but also through his values. Everyone has talent at this level, but you also have to be a good person. He has shown that you can beat anyone while remaining a good person.”
Why Toto Wolff chose Kimi Antonelli to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes
For Toto Wolff, Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s world championship also represents confirmation of a philosophy Mercedes followed from the moment the team decided to place him in the seat vacated by Lewis Hamilton.
The Austrian recalled the morning when the seven-time world champion visited his home to confirm his decision to join Ferrari. Even before the conversation was over, Toto Wolff already knew who he wanted as the British driver’s replacement.
“When Lewis came to my house that morning, I already knew what was about to happen. The moment he confirmed that he was going to Ferrari, I instinctively understood that Kimi would get into our car. His Formula 2 season had only just begun.
“I called Bradley and James Allison and said: Kimi will drive for Mercedes. They asked me what I was talking about, but we already had all the data we needed. We didn’t need any further confirmation. To me, it never felt like a risk.”
That conviction remained unchanged even when Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s first Formula 1 season proved considerably more complicated than many observers had anticipated. According to Toto Wolff, however, Mercedes had expected the Italian’s rookie campaign to be difficult from the outset.
Mercedes ignored doubts over Antonelli’s difficult 2025 rookie season
Toto Wolff insisted that there had never been any uncertainty within Mercedes about the decision to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The doubts came from outside the team, including rival organisations, drivers who believed they deserved the vacant seat, journalists and former Mercedes partners.
“There was never any doubt within the team. Ola [Källenius, chairman of the Mercedes-Benz board of management] completely agreed with the decision. The doubts came from outside, from other teams, from other drivers who thought they deserved that seat, from the media and also from people who were Mercedes partners at the time but are no longer.
“They told us it was absurd to put an 18-year-old in Hamilton’s car, that he should have spent another year in Formula 2 or developed at Williams, as George had done.”
The criticism intensified during a prolonged run of races without points and following Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s tears at Spa during the summer of 2025. Those difficult moments gave his critics further opportunities to question whether Mercedes had promoted him too quickly.
“At that point, those who had been saying ‘I told you so’ were given even more room to speak. But nothing changed for us. It was a project lasting at least two years. The second year was supposed to confirm what we had seen in him. I think that confirmation has arrived today.”
The Italian’s subsequent progress vindicated Mercedes’ patience, with his development into a Formula 1 world champion marking the culmination of a long-term commitment to his potential.
Toto Wolff reveals Kimi Antonelli’s private concerns before Mexico GP title win
Despite Mercedes’ confidence in Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the young driver still experienced considerable pressure during the decisive Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. Toto Wolff revealed that the Italian had visited his office to discuss how difficult he was finding the expectations surrounding his imminent championship triumph.
“Usually, when he comes to see me and closes the door, I know there’s something worrying him. He told me that it was very difficult to deal with all those people who were already congratulating him on the world championship on Friday and Saturday, when the job wasn’t finished yet.
“His father and I, without consulting each other, essentially told him the same thing: it’s no different from when you were racing to win a karting championship. The pressure is the same.
“He didn’t agree, but I explained to him that he felt that pressure even as a child. He just had to drive the way he knows how, without thinking about anything else. And if it didn’t happen in Mexico, it could happen in São Paulo.”
According to Toto Wolff, the conversation helped Andrea Kimi Antonelli regain his composure. The Mercedes team principal believes the support surrounding the young Italian has been essential in protecting him from the negative influences that can accompany success at the highest level.
“He got up and he was happy. I think we’ve managed to build real protection around him, made up of his family, his friends, the people who care about him and the team. A shield that prevents negative influences from reaching him.”
Wolff describes emotional moment Antonelli became F1 world champion
Although Toto Wolff believed Andrea Kimi Antonelli was capable of winning the championship, the moment the Italian finally achieved it produced an unexpected emotional response. Surprisingly, the Austrian initially felt almost nothing as the race approached its conclusion.
“I was sitting in the garage, as I’ve done for 12 years. The race was coming to an end and I felt absolutely nothing. I even wondered what was wrong with me, because I should have been feeling something.
“Instead, nothing. We were focused on our work, as we had been throughout the weekend. Then I saw him in the stadium. I saw that young man who had just won his first world championship in dominant fashion. And it was beautiful.”
The experience was particularly meaningful because of the long relationship between Toto Wolff and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes team principal had watched the Italian develop from a young karting prospect into the sport’s newest world champion, making the achievement different from the championships he had previously celebrated with Lewis Hamilton.
How Kimi Antonelli’s F1 title compares with Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes success
Toto Wolff emphasised that winning championships alongside Lewis Hamilton had been an extraordinary experience. However, he admitted that Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s triumph carried a different emotional significance because he had known the Italian since childhood.
“Winning with Lewis was incredible. We felt that we were part of the history of one of the greatest champions of all time, and I’ll carry those successes with me for the rest of my life.
“But with Kimi it’s different. To me, he’s still that little boy who used to come into the Mercedes garage at 11 years old. He’s changed very little, even in his appearance.
“A few weeks ago, I was trying to contact him and they told me he was at a water park for his birthday. Fantastic! It’s wonderful that he’s stayed that way.”
That personal connection has made Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s achievement especially rewarding for the Austrian, who now hopes to see the young driver establish a lasting legacy rather than simply enjoy one exceptional championship season.
Toto Wolff targets more F1 world titles with Kimi Antonelli
Toto Wolff is already looking beyond Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s maiden championship. He does not want the Italian to be remembered solely as Formula 1’s youngest world champion, but as someone who continued improving and remained influential throughout a long career.
The Mercedes team principal explained that he had discussed a much more ambitious objective with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, inspired by a reflection shared with him by Lapo Elkann about his grandfather, Gianni Agnelli, and the ability to remain a relevant figure throughout life.
“I told Kimi that we have to work together to ensure he remains important throughout his career. He has another 25 years ahead of him, because I believe he’ll drive longer than anyone else.
“I want to be able to look back, many years from now, and say that he wasn’t a one-season phenomenon, but someone who continued to improve and leave his mark.”
For Toto Wolff, the world championship secured in Mexico is not the final destination of the Andrea Kimi Antonelli project. It confirms that Mercedes made the right choice when it placed its faith in the young Italian and marks the beginning of a new chapter.
Following Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s emotional title triumph, the Mercedes team principal remains convinced that further success is possible if the team continues providing him with competitive machinery.
“If we can give him a car capable of winning, he’ll be fighting for more titles. This was the first, and there will be others.”
More news about Kimi Antonelli’s F1 world championship
- Stefano Domenicali celebrates Kimi Antonelli’s historic title as Italy ends 73-year wait
- Lando Norris pays tribute to Kimi Antonelli after losing F1 world championship crown
- Why Kimi Antonelli will not use number 1 in the 2027 Formula 1 season
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