Wolff praises Antonelli as role model after Mexico City title and criticises F1’s ‘entitled moaners’
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised Kimi Antonelli after the Mexico City race on Sunday, calling the new world champion a role model and attacking what he described as some of Formula One’s “entitled moaners”. Antonelli secured his first world title in Mexico City on Sunday at 20 years old, becoming the youngest F1 champion in only his second season.
Antonelli, who has been with Mercedes since he was 12, sealed the title with a third-place finish in Mexico after a season in which he has been consistently at the front while maintaining a clean driving record. Wolff said the Italian’s attitude, enthusiasm and sense of fair play have been notable in a revelatory season and that Antonelli has proved to be a gamechanger in more ways than one.
Wolff addressed what he sees as a change in the type of driver succeeding in F1 and set out his critique directly, saying: “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. “He should be a role model for the few entitled ones in Formula One. The endless moaners on the radio. The ones that complain, the ones that crash. Look at this kid of 20 years and then think what you can do in order to improve. That’s the message to these kids.” Wolff did not name the targets of his ire but said his comments would be noticed.
Wolff said senior figures in the sport share that view, naming Stefano Domenicali and the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and added: “That is how the FIA, that Mohammed, that Stefano, that I would want to see racing drivers in the future,” Wolff said. “That is modern Formula One. Kimi represents the modern Formula One driver, because of those values, not only because of his talent. The talent is there with everyone. But you got to be a good person too and he has demonstrated that you can beat everyone out there by being a good person.” Fellow world champions Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris offered plaudits to Antonelli, while his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who Wolff said was roundly beaten by the Italian this year, acknowledged Antonelli’s honest and fair approach.
Antonelli said he will keep his current race number rather than adopt the champion’s No 1 next season, citing personal reasons and a tribute to Ayrton Senna. “I’ll stay with No 12 because obviously it’s a very special number for me but also it’s a way for me to stay grounded, to stay humble,” Antonelli said when asked if he would adopt the champion’s No 1. He added: “I feel like by keeping No 12, it allows me to have a new point where to start and build on everything again and try to improve.” Antonelli chose No 12 because of his admiration for Ayrton Senna, who used it early in his career with Lotus between 1985 and 1987 and when he won his first title in 1988 for McLaren.
After the race Antonelli was raised aloft on the podium by Verstappen and Hamilton, who finished first and second in Mexico, a moment he said he would preserve. “I will definitely frame that picture and put it in my house,” he said. “It’s just an incredible moment. To see so much respect from two incredible drivers in the history of the sport is truly special that will live and will always be remembered.”
Although entitled to use the No 1 next season, Antonelli confirmed he will retain No 12 as his race number to remain grounded and to begin a new phase of improvement.