Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff hailed 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli’s recent form as “astounding” after the young driver produced a composed, mature drive to win the Miami Grand Prix — his third consecutive Formula 1 victory. Wolff described the Miami performance as Antonelli’s best so far.
Antonelli became only the third driver in F1 history to register his first three wins in successive races. After losing the lead off pole, he recovered by undercutting McLaren’s Lando Norris during the race’s only pit stop, then resisted pressure from the reigning world champion to take the flag. The result moved him 20 points clear at the top of the drivers’ standings ahead of team-mate George Russell, who had been widely expected to lead Mercedes under the new 2026 regulations.
Wolff said the run of results had exceeded expectations. He praised the team for providing a strong car and engine, but stressed Antonelli’s ability to convert that package into consistent race-winning performances. “It’s astounding these few races,” Wolff said, noting the contrast with last season’s fluctuating form and calling Antonelli’s recent run “special.”
After a mixed rookie campaign in 2025, Antonelli appears to have taken a significant step forward. He is now among the favourites with UK bookmakers for the Drivers’ Championship. Even so, he has continued to lose positions off the line — for the sixth time in as many events this year, including two Sprint races — yet has repeatedly delivered steady, strategic racecraft to regain ground.
Wolff assessed Miami as Antonelli’s best race yet, likening the flawless, error-free performance to the composure he showed in karting and Formula 4. “There were no mistakes,” Wolff said.
Fast-tracked into Mercedes as the team prepared for life after Lewis Hamilton, Antonelli endured scrutiny when he struggled mid-2025. He says he hadn’t expected to be leading the championship at this stage but credits growing confidence with helping him extract more from the car.
“I did not expect it,” Antonelli said. “We’re living such a good moment, but it’s still a very long season and many things can change. George will be strong in Canada — he’s always been good there — and we’ll see how upgrades come. I’m proud of the team’s work and enjoying the journey.”
Russell attributed his Miami difficulties to a dislike of the track; the next round is the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, a circuit where Russell has historically performed well and where F1 will again run a Sprint weekend in three weeks.
Wolff also warned that off-track attention must be managed carefully. He compared the spotlight on Antonelli to the one surrounding tennis player Jannik Sinner, noting how the young Italian driver has captured national attention. “The easiest bit is making sure he keeps both feet on the ground within the team,” Wolff said, praising Antonelli’s family for keeping him grounded. “The bigger problem is the Italian public — with football not going their way, all the attention goes to Sinner and Antonelli. There are so many requests for his time. It’s on us to keep the handbrake on.”
Formula 1 now turns its focus to Montreal and the Canadian Grand Prix, where teams will assess upgrades and drivers will look to either close or extend gaps as the season continues.