Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reckons his star teenager Kimi Antonelli is displaying all of the “traits” to change into an all-time System 1 nice after clinching pole for the British Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by nearly two tenths for his fifth pole of 2026, on the identical day that Antonelli overtook Lewis Hamilton to win the Silverstone dash race.
Learn Additionally:
Antonelli’s pole is much more spectacular contemplating that for the ultimate runs in Q3 he was despatched out on monitor first, prompting an offended response from him, however one thing he nonetheless overcame.
So it’s the newest installment within the sophomore’s domination of the present marketing campaign as 5 wins in eight leaves him prime of the championship and 43 factors forward of team-mate George Russell in second.
“He hasn’t received the world championship but, so we all the time want to contemplate the large image as a result of he’s being in comparison with the good ones,” Wolff instructed Sky Sports activities.
“I feel he has all of the traits to be an incredible one, however you should lock within the outcomes and yeah, he doesn’t present any weaknesses.
“He was a bit of bit on the again foot, no downside, as any driver, you don’t prefer to be despatched out first. He made that remark within the pitlane after which parked it. It’s compartmentalised. It doesn’t play any function in his means to drive quick.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
If Antonelli turns into world champion in 2026 then he would be the youngest to ever accomplish that, breaking the present report held by Sebastian Vettel who was 23 years and 134 days when he received in 2010.
So the Italian’s kind is actually spectacular and much more so when one considers the leap he has created from 2025, the yr he endured a particularly up-and-down rookie marketing campaign.
There have been instances when the Mercedes driver made key errors, allowed the pressures of his residence races get to him, and scored simply two factors finishes throughout the center 9 grands prix.
Antonelli finally completed seventh within the championship and 169 factors behind the impressively constant Russell, who was the heavy pre-season favorite for the 2026 title.
Wolff added: “It’s a pleasure to look at. You may see the delta time getting quicker and quicker and quicker and no errors. I’d say he’s actually performing contemplating it’s solely his second yr. He’s acting on such a excessive degree.
“He had a extremely unhealthy run final yr and George was working very effectively. However I feel he’s in all probability sufferer to the strain, to the brand new atmosphere that comes upon you – he was simply 18.
“In that method, it’s exceptional how he got here out of the blocks at the start of this yr. It’s nearly like, skilled, mature, however he’s simply 19.”
Learn Additionally:
We wish your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Group
