Toto Wolff has reflected on the nine years of work behind Kimi Antonelli's remarkable rise to the top of Formula 1 following the Italian's victory at the United States Grand Prix. The Mercedes team principal defended his young driver against the criticism he faced earlier in his career, stressing that his success was anything but sudden.
Wolff reflects on Antonelli's journey to the top
Antonelli claimed his ninth victory of the 2026 season in Austin, moving another step closer to his maiden Formula 1 world championship. However, Wolff was keen to highlight the years of preparation behind the Italian's performances, having watched him develop through the Mercedes junior programme.
"When you hear our competitors talking about him today, they see the talent and compare him to someone like Niki Lauda. But what these people don't understand is that this is the result of nine years of work, starting from karting. Nine years of development, growth, working with engineers," Wolff told Sky Sport Italy after the race.
"He has been part of our structure throughout that time, and this is the result of those nine years. It's not simply a case of putting a young driver in Formula 1 and seeing him win straight away."
Photo: Race Pictures
The Mercedes boss also recalled the difficult moments Antonelli experienced during his development, particularly the criticism surrounding his age and performances.
"I remember last year, when he went nine races without scoring points, people criticised him for being too young. It was the same in Formula 2, when he was criticised for being too young."
"Even in Formula 2, when he didn't have a particularly good season. That's why I'm happy for him, for the team and for all the work we've done over these nine years. Let's finish the job first, and then we can celebrate with tequila, or next weekend with mojitos."
How Antonelli can win the championship in Mexico
Antonelli's victory in Austin was not enough to secure the championship, despite another dominant performance from the Mercedes driver. George Russell's eighth-place finish kept the Briton's mathematical hopes alive, while Lewis Hamilton also finished fourth, preventing the Italian from celebrating the title in the United States.
The championship battle now moves to Mexico City, where Antonelli needs just two more points to secure his first Formula 1 world title. A ninth-place finish would therefore be sufficient to put the championship beyond the reach of his remaining rivals, regardless of their results.
After missing his first opportunity to seal the championship in Austin,Antonelli will have another chance at the Mexican Grand Prix. The Italian could become world champion at just 20 years old, completing a remarkable journey through the Mercedes junior programme that began nine years earlier