Wolff explains Antonelli turnaround after ‘tears’

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says it is "extremely satisfying" to see Kimi Antonelli's turnaround from last year as the Italian looks to secure the 2026 Formula 1 world title this weekend in Mexico. Toto Wolff explains Kimi Antonelli turnaround after 'tears' in Belgium 2025 to likely world championship coronation at Mexico City GP Toto Wolff says "I don't know what happened over the winter" to Kimi Antonelli as the 20-year-old looks set to become world champion this Sunday; watch every session of the Mexico City GP from this Friday, live on Sky Sports F1 Nigel Chiu Sports Journalist @NigelCJourno Thursday 29 October 2026 05:59, UK Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Take a look at our picks of the pivotal moments that defined the F1 season, as Kimi Antonelli looks to secure the 2026 World Drivers' Championship in Mexico Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says it is "extremely satisfying" to see Kimi Antonelli's turnaround from last year as the Italian looks to secure the 2026 Formula 1 world title this weekend in Mexico. A top nine in this Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix for Antonelli will ensure he becomes the sport's youngest world champion at 20 years old – breaking Sebastian Vettel's record by three years.

Antonelli joined Mercedes last year and struggled for the majority of his rookie season after a huge amount of excitement before his Formula 1 debut. How Antonelli can win world title at Mexico City GP on Sunday Mexico City GP Schedule | F1 2026 standings | F1 2026 calendar Got the Sky Sports app? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream F1 with no contract 📺 Wolff recalls the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix as a particular low moment when Antonelli was in tears after being eliminated in Q1.

"The many people that said last year after nine races without points, he shouldn't be in a Mercedes," said Wolff. "People in other teams that said, he shouldn't even be in Formula 1, the tears in Spa, in parc ferme. And all of that now is extremely satisfying to see what he's able to deliver, how he's working with the team, with Bono [Antonelli's engineer Peter Bonnington] and yielding the results.

But it wasn't an easy road. "So, I'm happy that, 99.9 per cent, he still needs to finish the race in Mexico. So, it's either going to be a big tequila party or if it's not a tequila party, then it's going to be Caipirinha the weekend afterwards." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Craig Slater gives his verdict on the on United States GP, as a dominant win for Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli leaves the Italian needing just two points from the Mexico GP to claim an historic first world title Antonelli has won nine races this season and consistently had the upper hand on Mercedes team-mate George Russell throughout the year.

Wolff thinks the new 2026 cars, which provided a reset for the field, has benefitted Antonelli and is mystified how the Italian has hit back so strongly after last year. "I think maybe it was to his benefit that the regulations were all new.

When last year he came in and those cars existed, those cars existed for four years. The other drivers were used to it," he said.

"And all new for everyone this year. And he just made it stick with his easiness, with his mindset, with his easiness of approaching things.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says that Kimi Antonelli's performance at the United States Grand Prix was 'exceptional'. "In Austin, he came to my office before getting ready, before getting dressed and just sat down on the sofa and said, 'I'm going to enjoy this one.

I'm not thinking at all about the championship'. "I said, 'well, exactly stick to that attitude.

You have the best job in the world. Don't forget that.' So he has also the right mindset.

"It's been 30 or more years that I've tried to understand racing drivers' brains and I still don't know what has happened over the winter. "His ability to process and deliver something that's outstanding, which we didn't see coming.

But credit to him, credit to his engineers, to his environment, his family that he's delivered in that way." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Martin Brundle sits down with Andrea Kimi Antonelli to discuss his career so far at Mercedes Antonelli looking to win championship 'in style' Antonelli's win last weekend in Austin was somewhat of a surprise after Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the previous two Formula 1 races. Several F1 championships have been won without the champion finishing on the podium in that race, but Antonelli is keen to "finish on a high".

"The perfect way would be to finish off in style and enjoy the rest of the season," he told Sky Sports F1. "I'm very well aware it's very close but the mindset hasn't changed.

I want to finish the season on a high to have high hopes in 2027.