MOTOR RACING: Wolff wary of Italy's World Cup failure adding to hype around Antonelli

MIAMI — Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said he needs to “keep a handbrake on the hype” as Kimi Antonelli’s sensational start to the Formula One season continues to capture attention in Italy, where football disappointment has shifted focus toward rising sporting stars.

Antonelli, just 19, has emerged as the youngest-ever championship leader in F1, and his momentum showed no signs of slowing at the Miami Grand Prix weekend, where he secured a third consecutive pole position and victory.

With Italy’s national soccer team failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third straight cycle, public attention at home has increasingly turned to Antonelli and tennis star Jannik Sinner, adding to the pressure surrounding the young driver.

“The bigger problem is the Italian public,” Wolff said. “Now that they are not qualified for the football World Cup, it’s all about Sinner and Antonelli. They are superstars now, and that’s something we need to contain.”

Wolff added that the growing number of media and sponsor requests has become a challenge for the team to manage.

“There are so many requests for his time from the media, from sponsors. Now it’s on us to keep the handbrake on. The risk is that he is being carried away too quickly,” he said.

The World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, begins on June 11, with four-time champion Italy absent after failing to qualify again. Meanwhile, Sinner continued his dominant run in tennis, becoming the first man to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles after defeating Alexander Zverev in the Madrid Open final.

Wolff described Antonelli’s Miami performance as his best to date, praising his composure under pressure.

“It reminds me of his karting days. There were no mistakes,” Wolff said. “He handles pressure so well, he analyzes it but doesn’t overthink it. We need to stay calm because all of Italy will be watching him closely.”

He emphasized that Mercedes is focused on long-term development rather than immediate expectations.

“This is a long game. He has a very fast teammate, and we want to manage this properly so he can hopefully compete for championships over the next 10 to 15 years. We don’t want to stumble now under huge expectations.”

Teammate George Russell, who was the pre-season favorite, finished fourth in Miami and now trails Antonelli by 20 points in the standings. Russell previously won in Australia but has struggled more on the Miami circuit.

Antonelli’s rookie season already showed flashes of brilliance last year, including record-setting laps and a sprint pole position, though he also made expected mistakes as part of his development.

Wolff said the current season is progressing as anticipated, with steady growth from the young driver.

“It’s astounding to see these few races,” Wolff said. “In a way, it’s what we expected as a team. There are highs and lows, moments of brilliance and moments where you shake your head. But this year, it is all coming together. I don’t think any of us expected this kind of run.” -Reporting by Alan BaldwinEditing by Toby Davis/Reuters