Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has praised Kimi Antonelli for delivering his “best race so far” after the young Italian converted pole position into victory at the Miami Grand Prix—his third consecutive win this season. Despite intense competition from a resurgent McLaren team and upgrades from rivals, Antonelli kept his composure to claim the top step of the podium, holding off a late charge from Lando Norris.
Wolff highlighted Antonelli’s adaptability and determination: “It’s easier to slow someone, climb someone down that is wild, because you won’t be able to accelerate a donkey. For me, that was his best race so far. It reminds me of his karting days in Formula 4.”
The Miami weekend wasn’t without challenges—Mercedes missed out on the Sprint podium while McLaren locked out the top two spots, forcing the Silver Arrows to reassess their approach. Antonelli also overcame a slow getaway and downshifting concerns at the race start, with Wolff attributing the issue to team shortcomings: “It’s not at all on him… We all know it’s just not good enough. We’re not doing a good enough job in giving them a tool in their hands, whether it’s clutch or the grip estimates.”
Despite these hurdles, Antonelli managed to withstand late pressure from Norris, eventually finishing 3.264 seconds ahead and solidifying his lead in the championship. Wolff acknowledged the importance of keeping Antonelli grounded, noting, “That is the risk, that he’s being carried away too quickly. We know that the parents are going to keep him grounded… This year, it’s coming together. I don’t think that any of us would have expected this kind of run. We’ve given him a car that is very good, and an engine that is right, but how he’s been able to monetise on that every single weekend is special.”
Antonelli’s Miami performance cements his status as a championship frontrunner, with Mercedes remaining vigilant as the season intensifies and the competitive field closes in.
