Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has likened his driver Kimi Antonelli to Italian tennis superstar Jannik Sinner, following the 19-year-old's victory at the Miami Grand Prix. Antonelli's third consecutive win puts him 20 points ahead of teammate George Russell in the world championship, in only his second Formula One season.
Wolff praised Antonelli's composure during a tight battle with McLaren's Lando Norris, calling it his best race so far. 'It seems like a lot of the speed has always been there, everything is chipping away at the finer details,' Wolff said. 'It reminds me of his karting days or Formula 4, there were no mistakes today.'
Mercedes remain unbeaten this season, with Russell winning the opening round in Australia. Antonelli's rookie season was marked by errors, but he has swiftly adapted to become a realistic title contender. 'I don't think that any of us would have expected this kind of run,' Wolff admitted. 'We've given him a car that is very good, but how he's been able to monetise on that every single weekend is special.'
The parallels with Sinner extend beyond nationality: on each Sunday Antonelli has won this season, Sinner has also triumphed in his tennis tournaments. 'Now that they are not qualified for football, it's all about Sinner and Antonelli, and Antonelli and Sinner,' Wolff said. 'Sinner won in Madrid, so it's the two that are superstars.'
