Toto Wolff cools Lewis Hamilton hype after what he saw in Kimi Antonelli’s data at Barcelona GP

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Toto Wolff believes that Kimi Antonelli could have matched Lewis Hamilton’s pace before he was forced to retire from the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

The Italian’s impressive win streak in 2026 came to an end in Barcelona as an engine failure forced him out of the race with six laps to go. Hamilton claimed victory for Ferrari by over 20 seconds from George Russell and Lando Norris.

Ferrari’s upgrades for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, as well as Hamilton’s three-stop strategy, worked a treat as he grabbed his 106th career win and his first for the Maranello outfit. The 41-year-old’s pace was electric, but Wolff believes Antonelli could have caught up.

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Toto Wolff believes Kimi Antonelli could have matched Lewis Hamilton’s pace in Barcelona

Mercedes did not help themselves in Barcelona, as their pit stop strategy ultimately cost them the victory. They pitted both drivers as Hamilton moved to a three-stop strategy, and the Ferrari driver soon had control.

Hamilton was lapping over two seconds faster than Antonelli at one stage, ultimately winning the race over George Russell by over 20 seconds.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Antonelli’s battle with Russell cost Mercedes, according to Wolff. The Italian had been chasing his teammate before eventually passing him with a few laps to go.

It did not last long, however, as Antonelli was forced to retire with a mechanical failure. He pulled his W17 off the track at the same spot where he retired in Barcelona in 2025.

All the hype was around Hamilton after his victory, but Wolff has cooled that down after looking at Antonelli’s data. He is convinced that the Italian could have matched his pace, but he did not get the chance to prove it with his DNF.

He told Sky Germany: “First of all, congratulations to Lewis. He was incredibly fast today, was on the track at the right time, and totally deserved to win.

“We played a team game, and that might have cost us the victory. We’ll take a close look at that. And then, of course, the damage at the end: That can’t happen when you’re fighting for a world championship and can score big points. I’m not satisfied with anything today.”

Regarding Antonelli’s pace compared to Ferrari, he added: “I do believe Kimi could have matched that pace, but he never got the chance. In the end, it was a retirement. Driving a little faster wouldn’t have helped at all.”