Toto Wolff Warns Kimi Antonelli to Stay Grounded Amid Rising Fame
Toto Wolff, the executive director of Mercedes, has issued a caution to young driver Kimi Antonelli, urging him not to be swept up by the overwhelming support from the Italian public. This comes as Antonelli is now being compared to tennis superstar Jannik Sinner, who recently achieved remarkable success in the same timeframe.
Antonelli’s recent victory at the Miami Grand Prix marked his third consecutive win, making him the first Italian driver to achieve this feat since Alberto Ascari in 1952. He overcame reigning champion Lando Norris to claim the title, showcasing his growing prowess on the track. At just 19 years old, Antonelli is currently 20 points ahead of his Mercedes teammate George Russell, solidifying his position as a serious contender for the championship.
The timing of Antonelli’s three victories coincided with Sinner’s triumphs in Indian Wells, Miami, and Madrid, creating an unusual parallel between the two athletes. 
Wolff, who has overseen seven drivers’ championships during his tenure, believes that the pressure on Antonelli is immense. He emphasized the importance of keeping the young driver grounded, both within the team and outside of it.
“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 that we need to contain.”
Wolff highlighted the challenges of managing the expectations placed on Antonelli, noting that there are numerous requests for his time. “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.”
He added: “Sinner and Antonelli, Antonelli and Sinner. We have won three Grands Prix, Sinner is world number one and has won many grand slams.”
Wolff was speaking in the Mercedes hospitality area at Hard Rock Stadium, where Antonelli’s father, Marco, was among those present. Addressing him directly, Wolff said: “The risk is that he is being carried away too quickly. The parents will keep him grounded, right Marco?”
Marco Antonelli, himself a racing driver, responded with a simple “Right!” before Wolff continued. 
“This is the long game, he has a killer of a team-mate 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 debut season with Mercedes in 2025 was a mix of highs and lows. He was chosen to replace Lewis Hamilton, and there were concerns about whether he would last the season. However, Mercedes and Wolff remained confident in his potential, recognizing that his exuberance and occasional mistakes came alongside 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 was 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.”
Wolff concluded: “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.”
