Toto Wolff remarked, “He did a Kimi.” This comment came after Kimi Antonelli’s impressive performance at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, where he clinched his third consecutive victory to start the season. Despite this success, Wolff’s words reveal a deeper concern about Mercedes’ current standing in Formula 1.
Mercedes brought just two updated parts to Miami, a stark contrast to competitors like McLaren and Ferrari, who introduced more significant upgrades. Wolff admitted, “We know that we are a little out of sync with our upgrades compared to other teams.” This misalignment has left Mercedes struggling in the F1 drivers’ standings.
Kimi Antonelli, only in his second F1 campaign, now leads the drivers’ standings after victories in China and Japan. He made history by converting each of his first three pole positions into race wins—an achievement that sets him apart from his peers.
Wolff praised Antonelli’s development, stating, “The junior program for Antonelli is quite diligent and has shown good speed character traits.” Yet, he cautioned against becoming overly optimistic. “I hope he can continue on this positive slope. Most important is not to be carried away,” he said.
During the Miami sprint race, Mercedes faced additional challenges by failing to lock out the front row or place a car in the top three. This performance underscores the uphill battle they face as the season progresses.
Wolff pointed out that this season will be a pure development race: “Whoever brings a few tenths before their competitors will gain an advantage.” As teams push for improvements, Mercedes must accelerate its upgrade schedule to remain competitive.
The coming races will reveal whether Mercedes can catch up and if Antonelli can maintain his historic form amid these challenges. The next race will be crucial for both the team and its rising star.
