Wolff warns “dangerous” media frenzy could derail Antonelli’s F1 rise

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has issued a warning to the media over the dangers of labelling his rookie driver, Kimi Antonelli, as he continues to navigate his first season in Formula 1. 

The Austrian argues that labelling the 18-year-old Italian a “legend” after his maiden podium puts unnecessary pressure on his shoulders – pressure that could harm his development at such an early stage of his career. 

After a successful Canadian Grand Prix where George Russell finished first and his team-mate third, Wolff addressed these concerns. 

“Italy has been starved of drivers that are in race or championship-winning cars, so the enthusiasm is huge,” Wolff explained. “You know, top media outlets writing headlines that Kimi’s a legend aren’t helpful because in a country so passionate, lifting an 18-year-old to the status of legend after [a] podium is dangerous.”

Italy is a country deeply connected to the championship with the historic Ferrari team nestled deeply into F1’s roots. But despite this, an Italian driver hasn’t won a Grand Prix since Giancarlo Fisichella in 2006. And before Antonelli, the series hadn’t featured an Italian driver since 2021 in Antonio Giovinazzi. 

Wolff is prepared to protect his driver from this onslaught of praise – something that could easily derail him when keeping a steady head is so important. 

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

“It’s dangerous in that respect that we need to increase… to shield him, shield him from everybody wanting something from him,” Wolff continued. “And it starts in a trivial environment that there is lots of fans and they want selfies and it’s great. I mean better this than the other way around.”

Pressure is also being applied to the young racer internally, albeit not purposefully. Sat beside Russell, Antonelli is seeing close up what it’s like to be placed alongside one of the best drivers on the grid right now.

“There is enough pressure being in the car having George Russell as your teammate, driving a Mercedes car that can win races,” Wolff continued. “And if everything out around it starts to continue to to put pressure on him, I think it’s something which we really need to protect him and that’s what we are trying.”

Despite an impressive fourth-place debut in Australia, followed by his podium finish in Canada, Antonelli has struggled with consistency. However, this is to be expected, and the driver has reached a new level of confidence after his Canada campaign.

“I think Canada was really important for me,” he said ahead of the Austrian race weekend. “It was a big relief, but as well it was important because I think there was a couple of times in the season where I came close to the podium. I mean, Australia first race, I came incredibly close, and as well with Miami, with the pole in the sprint, and then P3 in the quali, definitely I remember back then that was the goal to be at least in the podium.

“But I just missed out, and to finally achieve that in Canada definitely was really important. And I think as well this will help me as a driver to drive a bit more relaxed as well, because I’m not going to lie, in the previous weekends I’ve been maybe a bit too tense on some occasions, and a bit too conservative as well, especially in practice.

“And I think now is really the time, after achieving this result, to make a step, and to make a step further, and to improve myself especially as well on the approach in practice. So trying to explore a bit more, especially the grip, because I think in qualifying I’ve been always arriving with a [few] too many question marks, and having to explore too much, and to learn too much.

“And in qualifying you don’t really have much time, because it’s only one lap on the tyre and then that’s it. So I think it’s really the time to make a step on this side, but I’m very excited for the weekend, and hopefully it can be a good one.”

Photos from Austrian Grand Prix – Friday