Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has publicly lauded Andrea Kimi Antonelli following his 2026 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship victory, asserting that rival teams would not have maintained faith in the young Italian during his challenging periods. Wolff’s comments come as the Mercedes team prepares for the Brazilian Grand Prix, where they aim to secure the Constructors’ Championship.
Antonelli clinched his maiden Formula 1 title on November 2, 2026, at the Mexico City Grand Prix, becoming the youngest-ever World Champion at 20 years old. He secured the championship with a third-place finish, with four races remaining in the season.
Wolff expressed immense pride in Mercedes’ unwavering support for Antonelli, particularly after a difficult Formula 2 season and a challenging rookie F1 campaign. He highlighted Antonelli’s values of humility, integrity, loyalty, and respect, positioning him as a role model for the sport.
“This notion of win at all costs, selfish, opportunistic, ruthless for your own benefit, that model of racing driver has died. We have a new champion that represents values: humility, integrity, loyalty, respect. Being himself. He should be a role model for many other young drivers.”
Antonelli’s path to the championship was not without significant hurdles. He experienced a crash during his first Formula 1 practice outing at Monza in 2024, which subsequently affected his confidence during his debut 2025 season.
His rookie year in 2025 included a mixed start followed by a particularly difficult European period, marked by a nine-race points drought. Antonelli admitted that he allowed the pressure to overwhelm him during this time, feeling he was letting down those who had believed in him.
A crucial meeting with the team after the European season helped Antonelli reset his approach. Mercedes protected him throughout this intense learning phase, which he credits for his significant development.
Wolff revealed that the decision to promote Antonelli was a ‘calculated risk’ based on internal data and instinct. He also disclosed that two sponsors withdrew their support from Mercedes due to doubts about the young driver’s promotion.
The current Formula 1 season continues this weekend with the Brazilian Grand Prix at Autódromo José Carlos Pace. Qualifying, held on November 7, 2026, saw Lando Norris secure pole position for McLaren.
George Russell qualified second for Mercedes, with Antonelli in third. However, a five-place grid penalty for Russell due to an engine change means Antonelli will start the race from the front row alongside Norris.
Several other drivers face significant grid penalties for the São Paulo Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will start from the back of the grid due to full power unit changes.
Charles Leclerc received a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding his internal combustion engine allocation. Sergio Perez also faces a back-of-the-grid start for power unit component changes.
Mercedes currently leads the 2026 Constructors’ Championship with 630 points after 19 of 23 rounds, holding a 126-point advantage over Ferrari. Mercedes needs to score at least three points more than Ferrari in Brazil to clinch the Constructors’ title.
