Wolff says Antonelli’s progress has surprised Mercedes in 2026
Toto Wolff said he has been surprised by how quickly Kimi Antonelli has developed during the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Mercedes boss compared the 20-year-old Italian to an "AI agent" that keeps improving, with the comments coming after Antonelli’s win at Monza.
Wolff said Antonelli’s rate of improvement over the 2026 season has exceeded even his own expectations. He compared the Mercedes driver to an "AI agent" that is constantly getting better.
Antonelli is 20 years old and is in his second Formula 1 season. He was fast-tracked into Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement after Hamilton left the team ahead of the 2025 season.
The remarks were made in the context of Antonelli’s Monza victory at the Italian Grand Prix. PlanetF1 also reported that Wolff felt one of his drivers could "walk over water" before that Monza triumph.
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