Toto Wolff praises Kimi Antonelli’s development—but at the same time warns against media and fan pressure at this early stage of his career
Mercedes motorsports boss Toto Wolff has commented on the growing expectations surrounding young driver Antonelli, emphasizing that the team’s primary task is to protect the young Italian from excessive public attention.
“I think the easier part is making sure he keeps both feet on the ground here in the team,” says Wolff. His family environment also plays a crucial role: “His parents play a big part in keeping him grounded.”
Media pressure in Italy is growing
At the same time, Wolff points to the unique media landscape in Italy. There, Antonelli is increasingly in the spotlight of a broad public that currently celebrates sports stars like world No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner.
“The bigger problem is the Italian public. Now that they haven’t qualified in soccer, the focus is on Sinner and Antonelli. And that’s something we have to control,” explains Wolff. There are numerous inquiries from the media and sponsors, which is why it’s the team’s job to “put the brakes on.”
Wolff was also impressed by the 19-year-old’s development, but cautions against excessive expectations. “I think this is exactly the kind of development we expected. Moments of brilliance, but also phases where you want to tear your hair out,” he says. This season, many things are coming together that had already been hinted at.
Antonelli has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to learn throughout his career so far. “He can analyze, but he doesn’t overthink it. He can put things into perspective and then move on,” says Wolff. This ability helps him deal with pressure and mistakes.
Long-term perspective instead of short-term pressure
At the same time, the Mercedes motorsport boss urges patience. “It’s a long road. He’s 19 years old. I don’t think I would have found my way to the airport on my own at that age,” says Wolff. Expectations must remain realistic, as setbacks are inevitable. “If he makes a mistake, people will say, maybe he isn’t the superstar we expected after all.”
Antonelli’s father also weighs in on the discussion and supports the team’s approach. When Wolff notes that the family plays an important role in keeping him grounded, he replies succinctly: “Right, right.”
Wolff concludes by explaining: The goal is to support Antonelli’s development over the long term without burdening him with excessive pressure. “We want to take the long view. He can win many championships over ten or fifteen years, but we don’t want to stumble now just because expectations are too high.”
