Wolff hails Antonelli’s faultless Interlagos performance

Kimi Antonelli produced the best Grand Prix result of his fledgling F1 career, finishing second at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after holding off title-chaser Max Verstappen in the closing laps. The rookie crossed the line behind winner Lando Norris at Interlagos, bouncing back from a difficult European stint with a confident, controlled drive.

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff said Antonelli had been impressive all weekend and credited the track and context for helping him perform. Wolff suggested the unfamiliarity with some venues, lower external expectations and reduced pressure compared with certain European rounds can aid a young driver’s progress. He praised the Italian’s late-race execution in particular, noting how Antonelli resisted Verstappen on the fresher tyre and defended perfectly under intense pressure — a performance Wolff called a clear signal of things to come.

Wolff also framed Antonelli’s progress as part of a broader learning curve. He said next season the driver will return to these circuits with more experience and without the pressure to overachieve, which is exactly the point of a developmental year that will include both highs and lows. “Today is an up,” Wolff added, calling it a significant moment in the rookie’s transition from boy to man on the grid.

Antonelli’s podium, combined with team-mate George Russell’s fourth place, helped Mercedes close in on securing second in the Constructors’ Championship. Wolff cautioned that the standings can swing quickly — pointing to how a double DNF for a rival and a strong points haul from other teams can change the picture in a single weekend — and urged the team to stay grounded and focus race by race.

Wolff also singled out Russell’s defensive driving, saying the scrap for places across the field made for proper, entertaining Formula 1 racing. He praised both drivers for their work in Brazil, calling their performances something he was proud to watch.

Mercedes attributed part of the result to smart energy management. Engineers, engine specialists and drivers fine-tuned harvesting and deployment to maximize power on the main straight while conserving energy elsewhere, a strategy that proved crucial in holding position during the final laps.