(Motorsport-Total.com) – At his Formula 1 debut two years ago, Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli ended up in the tire stacks after just ten minutes. Now the 20-year-old Italian raced from 19th on the grid to victory at his home race in Monza – even overshadowing Max Verstappen’s comeback in Brazil 2024.
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The current championship leader is the big surprise of this season. “He came out of the blocks after winter in a way no one saw coming,” admits Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff to Motorsport.com, a sister platform of Motorsport-Total.com in the Motorsport Network.
After a difficult debut season, in which Antonelli faced some harsh criticism, the 20-year-old has arrived at the top of the premier class. “But it is still surprising and amazing to see how quickly he is developing,” says Wolff.
“For me, it’s like an AI agent continuously improving and learning. That’s the pace,” the Austrian draws a curious comparison. “And certainly his age is an advantage. The cognitive and intellectual ability to constantly get better.”
Mercedes team boss Wolff has “never doubted him”
“Last year went according to plan,” the Mercedes team boss reflects. “I had said there would be moments of brilliance but also difficult phases. I think he started the season in a phase where he felt like a deer in the headlights – completely overwhelmed.”
“When he was in his element, sitting in the car, he already showed exceptional performances, but not consistently.” This was especially evident around mid-2025 season, when Antonelli experienced nine races in a row without scoring points.
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“I remember Spa went terribly for him and he was downcast,” Wolff looks back. “In Monza, I told him for the first time: ‘Listen, you have to finally wake up here.’ But I never doubted him. That’s why we gave him the chance.”
A chance that has long paid off for Mercedes: At the home race in Monza, Antonelli already celebrated his seventh win of the current season. In the drivers’ championship, the young Italian has now extended his lead over teammate George Russell to 66 points.
Kimi Antonelli remains grounded despite mega success
And yet Antonelli keeps both feet on the ground. “I take one race at a time because you never know what can happen,” said the talented Mercedes youngster after the Italian Grand Prix to Sky. “Today went well; we had a huge opportunity and took it.”
“But [now] Madrid is coming – a new challenge. We have to be fully on top of our game because the track is new to everyone. It will be about getting everything right from the start to make the most of the time on track and everything else.”
While some experts already consider Antonelli’s comeback in Monza his masterpiece, the 20-year-old himself remains reserved: “I will enjoy this moment, then focus on the next one and so on – until the end of the season.”
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