Toto Wolff has obviously had a front-row seat to Kimi Antonelli’s remarkable rise – one he still struggles to comprehend. But the Mercedes boss believes the young Italian’s win last weekend in Austin represents a new high-water mark.
Antonelli delivered a commanding performance at the United States Grand Prix, converting pole position into victory despite Mercedes enduring a difficult Friday as it continued to get to grips with its latest W17 upgrades.
But once the team found the right operating window, Antonelli took full advantage, controlling the race and strengthening his grip on the world championship.
For Wolff, the significance went beyond another trophy. Antonelli had shown the composure to manage the race from the front, even when starting on what the Austrian described as the inferior tyre.
“On Kimi's side obviously, the main headline is that for me that’s the best race that he's delivered so far,” Wolff said on Sunday evening.
“Getting off the start with the inferior tyre, and then controlling it at all times. The race of a champion – who isn't the champion yet – but exceptional.
“And so I think he's outperformed the car. Maybe it's a bit harsh to say, but I think his driving style just glues with the car. We saw that in qualifying yesterday, where on his last lap he could have been another tenth and a half or two up.”
Monza comparison fails to shake Wolff’s verdict
Antonelli has already produced some spectacular moments in his breakthrough season, including his charge from the back of the field to win at Monza.
Asked whether Austin really surpassed that remarkable home-soil triumph, Wolff admitted that his memory might not be the most reliable measuring stick.
“I've said that this is probably the best race I've seen, but my problem is that I don't remember past races!” he joked. “
So now you saying Monza, it was actually also pretty good, obviously with the advantage of the home crowd and seeing all these Tifosi that were a little bit confused wearing red and hearing the Italian anthem, but with the Mercedes outfit up on the podium.
“I think we're going to see more Kimi caps, Mercedes caps next year. Yeah, so both of them were pretty good. But the headline ‘this is the best’ we can keep!”
The light-hearted aside did little to dilute Wolff’s admiration. Mercedes had arrived in Austin still working to understand its upgrade package, yet Antonelli and his engineers managed to turn a difficult opening day into a weekend-ending statement.
Read also: Antonelli eager to seal title ‘in style’ in MexicoThe Italian has also remained firmly in the title hunt, with the championship still mathematically undecided.
Wolff’s assessment, however, suggests that Antonelli’s progress is no longer simply about delivering flashes of brilliance. He is increasingly showing the control, adaptability and judgement expected of a driver capable of sustaining a championship challenge.
For Mercedes, that combination could prove just as valuable as raw speed as the season approaches its conclusion.
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