Kimi Antonelli shows no sign of easing up.
Pete Bonnington turned teacher in Madrid, constantly reminding the 20‑year‑old Italian to respect the limits.
After a virtual safety car on a track where passing was impossible, Antonelli simply needed to stay clean, while Max Verstappen and Lando Norris trailed behind.
Earlier, Bonnington and Mercedes endured a near‑prank call that seemed to come from the youngster.
Antonelli: “Check the car!”
Bonnington: “Which corner?”
Antonelli: “I didn’t hit a wall, but the steering feels odd…”
With five laps left, despite little pressure, he clipped a concrete barrier at the Turn 7 entry, shouting, “I touched the wall on the entry to Turn 7.”
Even in control, he kept flirting with limits, much to the annoyance of his dad Marco and boss Toto Wolff—there’s simply no slowing him.
Wolff laughed after the race, “We joked with his father, ‘What an idiot!’ but that’s just Kimi. We had to hammer the white lines into his head; even at Monza he ran them and risked the car.”
He added, “I asked him, ‘Don’t you see the lines? Do we need to raise you so high to avoid them?’ We had a good laugh.”
Later, six laps from the finish, Antonelli shouted, “Check the car, I just brushed the wall.” He’s giving us grey hairs, yet perhaps that aggression fuels his speed.
Wolff noted, “He hit the wall again because he craves pace. Sometimes he’s an inch too daring.”
Kimi Antonelli is handing Toto Wolff a few grey hairs
In my view, his reckless flair is a double‑edged sword Mercedes will have to manage. His flat‑out style may stay for now, but a misstep could end his dream of a maiden championship.
Wolff insists the youngster isn’t eyeing the title, even though he’s the youngest ever in that seat. ‘I promise he’s not thinking about it,’ he said.
‘If Kimi tells himself he isn’t focusing on the championship, then he isn’t,’ Wolff continued. ‘We, his parents and the team, keep reminding him it’s unfinished business.’
‘Black‑swan events can strike when you least expect them,’ Wolff warned. ‘We consider worst‑case scenarios; he simply lives in the moment.’
Building on a rocky 2025 debut, Antonelli says his support network will guide him to the finish, whether in Abu Dhabi or a surprise home race in Imola near Bologna.
Kimi Antonelli enjoys a strong paddock support network
‘I’m lucky to have great people around,’ Antonelli said. ‘My team and family, especially my dad, keep me grounded and aren’t shy about pulling me back when I drift.’
‘I just aim to give my best each race, push the car to its limits, and let the season decide,’ he added. ‘I won’t overthink championships or results—just drive.’
His relentless speed is paying off, perhaps to a fault, according to his crew.
We want your opinion! Will you share your thoughts?
What would you like to see on?
Take our 5 minute survey.
– The Team