Toto Wolff calls Antonelli’s Austin win his best race yet

Kimi Antonelli’s pole-to-win performance at the United States Grand Prix earned the strongest assessment yet from Toto Wolff, who called it the Mercedes driver’s best race so far. Wolff pointed to Antonelli’s start on what he described as the inferior tyre and the way he controlled the race from there.

The victory did not settle the championship: Lewis Hamilton and George Russell remain in contention, and Antonelli still has to finish the Mexican Grand Prix before the title can be decided.

Antonelli turned a difficult weekend around

Mercedes had struggled on Friday while working to understand an update package first introduced in Malaysia. By qualifying, Antonelli and his engineers had found a better operating window for the W17. He took pole, then converted it into a commanding win.

Wolff said the Italian had delivered a performance that stood out even among his previous victories. He also suggested Antonelli’s driving style suited the car, noting that the driver had still left room for improvement on his final qualifying lap.

Asked to compare Austin with Antonelli’s charge from the back to victory at Monza, Wolff maintained that both were outstanding, while joking that he could not remember earlier races clearly enough to make a definitive ranking. The Austin win, he said, could keep its “best race” billing. Antonelli’s previous Monza achievement is also covered in our report on his confidence ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.

Wolff credits Antonelli’s calm approach and long development

Wolff said Antonelli’s relaxed attitude has helped him handle the pressure of a title fight. The driver had spoken to him before getting ready for the race, saying he intended to enjoy the moment rather than think about the championship. Wolff encouraged him to keep that perspective.

The team boss also said the fresh regulations had given Antonelli a chance to adapt alongside the rest of the field, rather than having to catch drivers accustomed to an established car. He admitted he was still trying to understand the scale of the Italian’s progress over the winter.

Wolff stressed that Antonelli’s rise was the result of sustained work, not a sudden breakthrough. Mercedes’ junior programme identified him when he was 11, and Wolff credited the programme, engineers, family and wider support network for developing him over nine years. His praise echoes the growing belief in Antonelli’s future, including Kimi Raikkonen’s backing for his championship potential.

Wolff said the journey had included difficult moments as well as progress. Now, with the championship still to be confirmed, the immediate task is clear: Antonelli must finish in Mexico before Mercedes can celebrate the title.