– Kimi Antonelli is the big surprise of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Mercedes driver has approached his second season in the top class with a consistency that even his team boss Toto Wolff is amazed by.
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After twelve Grands Prix so far, the 20-year-old leads the World Championship with a 59-point lead over George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Just a year ago, the situation looked very different. During the European phase of his rookie season, Antonelli alternated between strong performances and difficult race weekends. His extraordinary talent already shone in Miami and Canada, but the performances were not yet consistent.
Wolff described the situation back then with a fitting image: “Sometimes there are brilliant moments that leave us speechless, and sometimes we tear our hair out. But that all meets expectations.”
That Antonelli would be so consistent just one year later was not expected by many in the paddock. Wolff himself is no exception.
Wolff: Development “definitely” a surprise
When asked if Antonelli’s progress is one of the biggest surprises of his long motorsport career, Wolff answers unequivocally: “Definitely.”
Signs of Antonelli’s extraordinary potential had already flashed repeatedly last year. “I think the really great ones know it,” explains Wolff. “They say: You have to be one yourself to recognize another.”
“And I think if you listened to Lewis [Hamilton] or Max [Verstappen] last year, they already said he has the potential for it.”
Photo gallery: “Wonderkid” and record breaker: The career of Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes also recognized the Italian’s talents early on. Crucial to this were, among other things, Antonelli’s performances in karting and junior series. Nevertheless, the implementation at Formula 1 level is something else.
Therefore, Wolff maintains: “Coming out after the winter and practically mastering every single race immediately is one of the great surprises of my professional motorsport career,” he assesses Antonelli’s rise.
The Italian has impressively confirmed this assessment in the current season. Except for the races in Barcelona and Silverstone, he has stood on the podium at every Grand Prix. At the most recent race in Zandvoort, he finished second behind Lando Norris and extended his championship lead to 59 points.
Why Antonelli is so much more consistent in 2026
Wolff does not see the reasons for the development leap solely in the new technical regulations. It is conceivable that Antonelli’s driving style suits the 2026 cars better than the ground-effect cars of previous years. However, the real key also lies in Antonelli’s personal development.
“When I analyze it and ask myself why he had such a good reputation in the junior series and karting, I think it is due to his processing speed,” says Wolff. Antonelli mainly needed time to process the experiences from his first Formula 1 season.
“I think he simply needed the winter to process everything. Why was something good? Why was it bad? What do I have to do?” The decisive difference between 2025 and 2026: Antonelli no longer has to experience every situation for the first time.
Familiar environment takes pressure off Antonelli
According to Wolff, the stability within the Mercedes team also plays an important role. Antonelli now knows the procedures, the tracks, and the team’s working methods.
“He comes into an environment he already knows. He knew how the flight to Melbourne would go. He knew the hotel. He knew the setup. He comes to the racetrack, and everything is like last year,” explains the team boss. This allows the 20-year-old to focus more on the essentials.
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“That means it ultimately only comes down to driving and preparation, instead of standing like a deer in the headlights in 2025 and wondering: What is actually happening here?” For Wolff, the development remains remarkable: “But yes, it is still one of the really nice surprises.”
2025 was the expected learning process for Wolff
At the same time, Wolff makes it clear that Antonelli’s difficult first Formula 1 season was by no means a surprise to him. Rather, Mercedes had expected exactly this course. “What happened to Kimi last year was exactly what we predicted,” the Austrian says in retrospect.
Antonelli was only 18 years old when he stepped up to the top class. At the same time, he encountered a technical regulation with which the established drivers had already gained years of experience. For the rookie, many things were new.
“You are catapulted into Formula 1. He was 18 years old and came into an era with a very mature regulation. Most drivers had already driven these cars for a long time, and Kimi knew some of the tracks,” emphasizes Wolff.
And that’s not all: “Then came this avalanche of media requests and pressure. Suddenly, everyone who had been part of your journey so far felt they had to be with you or near you. The demands were enormous.”
Wolff defends early decision for Antonelli
Wolff was aware of the risk of placing Antonelli in a top team like Mercedes so early. However, he had to endure considerable criticism for this decision.
“Everyone told me it was too early, that I shouldn’t have brought him to Mercedes and that I should have put him in a smaller team first,” recalls the 54-year-old. A particularly difficult moment was the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa, when Antonelli showed nerves and made several mistakes.
Nevertheless, the Mercedes team boss stuck by his driver: “Spa was probably one of the worst moments. But for me, it was important to stand by him because I felt that it was exactly the year we needed.”
For Wolff, the rookie season alone is not decisive anyway. Only after the second year can it be assessed whether the development is actually going in the desired direction.
“We only make the assessment after the second year. And the way he has started this year is a surprise to everyone, and yes, also to me,” the Austrian confirms his assessment.
Antonelli’s enthusiasm infects Mercedes team
According to Wolff, Antonelli has not only developed athletically. His personality and attitude have also had a positive influence on the entire team.
“He is authentic, very open, and not political at all. He completely lacks that negative attitude. For him, everything revolves around performance on the racetrack,” says Wolff. The Italian’s enthusiasm in particular seems to be contagious.
“He has even managed to get all the English mechanics to hug each other. That’s new for us too!” Wolff reveals with a wink.
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Antonelli thus clearly enters the next part of the season as the championship leader with tailwind. However, despite recent successes, his situation is not completely worry-free: At the upcoming home race in Monza, the Italian must start from the back of the field due to a power unit change.
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