(Motorsport-Total.com) – Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff sees all the prerequisites in Kimi Antonelli to establish himself long-term among the very greats of Formula 1. The only 19-year-old Italian underlined his strong form during the race weekend in Great Britain with his fifth pole position of the 2026 season.
Read more Toto Wolff appeared in Silverstone with legendary Mercedes 300 SL
Antonelli secured pole position in qualifying at Silverstone with a margin of just under two tenths of a second against Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari. Earlier that same day, he had already won the sprint, leaving Lewis Hamilton behind.
His pole position was particularly remarkable also because Mercedes sent him out as the first car on the track for the decisive attempt in the third qualifying segment. Antonelli initially reacted annoyed to this but did not let it unsettle him on the track.
Wolff later interpreted the situation as another sign of his protégé’s maturity. “He was initially a bit dissatisfied. That is completely normal because no driver likes to be sent out first on the track. He addressed this in the pit lane and then immediately moved on. He can block out such things and they have no influence on his ability to drive fast.”
Wolff tempers expectations despite high spirits
Nevertheless, the Mercedes team boss urges caution. “He has not yet won the World Championship. Therefore, we always have to keep the big picture in mind because he is already being compared with the very greats. I think he has all the qualities to become one of the greats himself. But in the end, the results have to be right. So far, he shows no weaknesses.”
After five wins in the first eight races of the season, Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings with a 25-point lead over his teammate George Russell and is still considered a favorite in the title fight despite recent setbacks.
If Antonelli wins the World Championship this season, he would enter the record books as the youngest Formula 1 World Champion in history. The current record is held by Sebastian Vettel, who won his first title in 2010 at the age of 23 years and 134 days.
Read more Antonelli still believes in the World Championship title despite the Silverstone fiasco
From difficult rookie to title contender
Antonelli’s development appears all the more remarkable compared to his debut season in 2025. Back then, the Mercedes driver experienced a turbulent rookie season in which he repeatedly made mistakes. Especially at his home races in Monza, he was under great pressure. In addition, he scored points in only two out of a series of nine Grands Prix.
At the end of the 2025 season, Antonelli finished seventh in the overall standings, 169 points behind his consistently performing teammate Russell, who had been considered one of the top favorites for the World Championship title before the start of the 2026 season.
Wolff is therefore particularly impressed by the development of his protégé: “It is a pleasure to watch him. You can see how the lap times get faster and faster without any mistakes. Considering that he is only in his second season, his performance level is exceptionally high.”
Why Antonelli is so much stronger in 2026
Looking back at the difficulties of the previous year, the Mercedes team boss adds: “He had a really difficult phase last year, while George was very consistent. I think he was somewhat a victim of the pressure and the completely new environment back then. After all, he was only 18 years old. All the more remarkable is how he started this season. He seems experienced and mature, even though he is only 19 years old.”
With his current form, Antonelli is one of the dominant drivers of the 2026 season. If he confirms his performances in the upcoming races, the young Italian could further extend his lead in the title fight and take the next step towards his first Formula 1 World Championship title.
Read more Toto Wolff on Safety Car End: «2021 would have been more important …»