– Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff has commented on the growing expectations surrounding young driver Antonelli, emphasizing that the team’s main task is to protect the young Italian from excessive public attention.
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“I think the easier part is to ensure that he stays grounded here in the team,” says Wolff. The family environment also plays a crucial role: “His parents have a big part in keeping him grounded.”
Media pressure in Italy grows
At the same time, Wolff points to the special media situation in Italy. There, Antonelli is increasingly in the focus of a broad public, which currently mainly celebrates sports stars like tennis world number one Jannik Sinner.
“The bigger problem is the Italian public. Now that they are not qualified in football, it’s about Sinner and Antonelli. And that is something we have to control,” explains Wolff. There are numerous requests from media and sponsors, which is why it is the team’s task to “apply the handbrake.”
Development is right, expectations remain a topic
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Also with regard to the development of the 19-year-old, Wolff was impressed but warned against excessive expectations. “I think this is exactly the development we expected. Moments of brilliance, but also phases where you want to tear your hair out,” he says. This season, many things come together that have already been indicated.
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Antonelli has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to learn in his career so far. “He can analyze, but he doesn’t overthink it. He can classify things and then check them off,” says Wolff. This ability helps him deal with pressure and mistakes.
Long-term perspective instead of short-term pressure
At the same time, the Mercedes motorsport chief calls for patience. “It’s a long road. He is 19 years old. I don’t think I would have found my way to the airport alone at that age,” says Wolff. Expectations must remain realistic because setbacks are inevitable. “If he makes a mistake, people will say maybe he’s not the superstar we expected after all.”
Antonelli’s father also comments in the discussion and supports the team’s approach. In response to Wolff’s remark that the family plays an important role in keeping him grounded, he replies briefly: “Right, right.”
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Wolff concludes: The goal is to accompany Antonelli’s development in the long term without burdening him with excessive pressure. “We want to take the long road. He can win many championships over ten or fifteen years, but we don’t want to stumble now just because the expectations are too high.”
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