Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has described Formula One world champion Kimi Antonelli as a new race driver who represents the future of the sport, harshly comparing him to what he called some of the whiners on the grid and declaring that “selfless, ruthless” drivers are now dead in F1.
Antonelli secured his maiden world championship in Mexico City on Sunday, completing the extraordinary feat of becoming the youngest Formula 1 champion in his second season in the sport at the age of 20. The Italian’s attitude, enthusiasm and sense of fair play have caught the eye in what has been a revealing season for a young driver, and Wolff believes he has proven to be a game-changer in more ways than one.
“The concept of winning at all costs, selfish, opportunistic, ruthless for its own sake, that racing driver model is dead. We have a new champion who represents values,” Wolff said. “Humility, honesty, loyalty, respect. Being yourself. He should be a role model for many other young drivers.
“He should be an example to the few righties in Formula 1. Endless whining on the radio. Complainers, crashes. Look at this 20-year-old kid and then think about what you can do to improve. That’s a message to the kids.”
Wolff did not name the targets of his anger, but his comments will not go down well and it is clear he believes Antonelli, who has been at Mercedes since he was 12, is an excellent role model.
Antonelli sealed the title with a 3rd place finish in Mexico, after a season in which he was at the top but clean driving. Fellow world champions including Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris offered similar praise for the young driver ahead of them, and Mercedes team-mate George Russell, who lost to the Italian this year, acknowledged his honest and fair approach to the race.
Wolff went further to say that top figures in the sport felt Antonelli embodied what they wanted in an F1 driver, including Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“The FIA, Mohammed, Stefano, that’s how I’d like to see racing drivers in the future,” Wolff added. “This is modern Formula 1. Kimi represents the modern Formula 1 driver because of those values, not just because of his talent. Talent is there for everyone. But you have to be a good person, and he showed that by being a good person you can beat everyone out there.”
Before Wolff raised the issue in Mexico, Antonelli had already expressed his desire to hold on, even as world champion. Now eligible to put the number 1 on his car next season, he said he would instead retain his current number 12 spot. Antonelli chose it because Ayrton Senna used it early in his career with Lotus from 1985 to 1987 and won his first title at McLaren in 1988.
“I’m going to stick with No. 12 because obviously it’s a very special number for me, but it’s also a way for me to stay strong, to stay humble,” Antonelli said when asked if he would accept the champion’s No. 1. “I feel like by keeping the number 12, it allows me to have a new vantage point to start all over and build on and try to improve.”
After a hugely impressive performance in taking Antonelli’s title, the 20-year-old was joined on the podium after the race by two of the sport’s greats, Verstappen and Hamilton, who finished first and second in Mexico, and the 20-year-old said he would treasure and immortalize it.
“I will definitely frame that picture and put it in my house,” he said. “It’s just an incredible moment. To see two incredible drivers in the history of the sport so honored is truly a special occasion that will live on and be remembered forever.”