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At just 19 years old, Kimi Antonelli has shown many signs of being a generational talent in F1, and Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has now revealed the year he realised the young Italian was “special”.
Kimi Antonelli has been on the books at Mercedes since he was 12 years old, at a point in time in which the Bologna-born racer was lighting up the international karting scene.
In 10 years from now, where do you think Kimi Antonelli will rank among F1’s greatest drivers?
Fast forward seven years, and Antonelli is now the most promising young talent on the F1 grid, notching a record five consecutive Grand Prix victories to open his winning account at the start of the current campaign.
There is still much to be done before the Mercedes star’s name is etched in the history books as a world champion, but team boss Toto Wolff had an inkling of his talent from before his age had even reached double-digits.
- READ MORE: Kimi Antonelli has done something in 2026 F1 season that only Ayrton Senna had ever achieved
Toto Wolff reveals when he knew Kimi Antonelli was a ‘special talent’
In a recent interview with Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, Wolff was asked whether he knew that Antonelli would be breaking records one day upon signing him to the Silver Arrows’ junior team in 2019.
“We knew he needed a year to settle in and develop, because Formula 1 is a completely different world from the lower-tier series,” the Austrian executive replied. “He had to adapt to the car and learn to manage his commitments with sponsors and the media.
What did you think of Kimi Antonelli after his rookie season with Mercedes?
“The aim has always been to improve in his second season, and he has done just that, driving at an extremely high level and achieving extraordinary results. Right now, he’s exceeding even our wildest expectations, but he mustn’t become complacent.”
Wolff then, once again, urged fans and figures within the sport alike to remain grounded when it comes to making comparisons between Antonelli and some of F1’s finest competitors, adding, “Everyone is singing his praises, but I always urge us to keep a level head.
“We cannot compare him to Ayrton Senna, who won three titles and is one of the most iconic drivers of all time. Kimi has won five races – let’s give him time to develop.”
After also being asked when he knew Antonelli was a “special talent”, Wolff responded, “By the age of nine or ten, he’d already racked up successes and championships in karting.
“We started keeping an eye on him around that time, and then in 2019, he officially joined the Mercedes Junior Team.
“The fact that he’s got this far, though, is also down to his family: his dad is a former driver and owner of the Akm and Antonelli Motorsport teams, so he’s been able to give him some excellent advice.”
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