Toto Wolff jokes about masterminding Kimi Antonelli's success: "Can you tell Susie"
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Following a successful 2026 Japanese Grand Prix for his young driver Kimi Antonelli, Toto Wolff was in high spirits as he discussed the meteoric rise of the Italian sensation. Talking with Sky Sports F1, the Austrian jokingly accepted the title of "genius" from pundit Natalie Pinkham.
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When reminded of Antonelli's surprisingly steep trajectory at such a young age, the Mercedes chief reflected on the now two-time race winner visiting the team's factory as a junior driver.
"You see how quickly it goes and how quickly we age also no?" he laughed when asked about watching the rapid ascension of his driver. "Because that seemed like it was years ago when he was a kid. When he came into the office he met James Allison and James Allison thought it was a kid who lost his parents and was looking for someone.
"And it's incredible. Yesterday he was 14, today he's 19, he's winning two races in a row in Formula 1, and we are really happy about the development that he's taking."
When Pinkham playfully suggested that Antonelli's immense success made the team principal look like a genius, Wolff was quick to react with modesty, asking if they could inform his wife, Susie Wolff, of this compliment.
"Of course, yeah. Of course," he laughed. "Can you tell Susie? She doesn't always believe that."
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Toto Wolff, MercedesHe immediately threw focus towards his team, who he credited with developing the 19-year-old. He detailed the extensive network of support that has helped Antonelli grow into the performer they saw this weekend.
"The truth is, we as a team starting from Gwen, who runs our junior programme, who spotted him when he was 11 to the whole team, the engineers that gave him the opportunity, the marketing people that have been looking at him and protecting him...
"That's another factor now. We need to protect him from people talking about world championships. All of us, it's a joint effort to have two junior drivers in the lead of this championship."
Despite a poor start, Antonelli was able to leverage the opportunities given to him while his team-mate George Russell was caught out by the safety car.
"No, I thought 'not again'," Wolff said on the start that saw Antonelli drop to sixth behind Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. "Because obviously we're not giving them the easiest of tools, our starts have generally been a bit on the mediocre side, and we need to improve that.
"But in that case, the driver had massive influence on that car not going away. Looked good with the wheel spin, but isn't fast.
"But then in the race, he made his way up, and obviously, it was at the moment where it mattered he was really fast and we were able to extend his stint by that one lap, and that caused George's race to go belly up, and made the difference."
Photos from Japanese GP - Sunday
Race start
Race startAndrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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An Oracle Red Bull Racing fan.
An Oracle Red Bull Racing fan.Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Brie Larson.
Brie Larson.Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Alexander Albon, Williams
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Ferrari fans.
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 TeamSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Charlie Day and Jack Black visit the Mercedes AMG F1 Team garage.
Charlie Day and Jack Black visit the Mercedes AMG F1 Team garage.Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, George Russell, Mercedes
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, George Russell, MercedesLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
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Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team, George Russell, Mercedes, Carlos Sainz, Williams, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team, George Russell, Mercedes, Carlos Sainz, Williams, Sergio Perez, Cadillac RacingSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 TeamAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamSimon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Toto Wolff, MercedesSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenClive Mason / Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, AlpineLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull RacingClive Mason / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Liam Lawson, Racing BullsAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 TeamSimon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesAlastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineAlastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull RacingSimon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLarenSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren Team
Oscar Piastri, McLaren TeamSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesClive Mason / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesPhilip Fong / AFP via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes celebrates at parc ferme
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes celebrates at parc fermePhilip Fong / AFP via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
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