Toto Wolff makes Kimi Antonelli vow after 'dangerous' spotlight

Toto Wolff has vowed to protect Kimi Antonelli from "dangerous" media attention in Italy, where he was branded a 'legend' for scoring a podium. 

In the Canadian GP, Antonelli finished P3 to haul a maiden career podium, and become the first Italian since Jarno Trulli at the 2009 Japanese GP to finish in the top three.

Italy's wait for a grand prix win goes back to the 2006 Malaysian GP, where Giancarlo Fisichella won, whilst it has not had a world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953 - the fourth season of the world championship, with 2025 being the 76th. 

At Antonelli's home race of Imola, Wolff and Mercedes admitted it had not done enough to protect him from the media storm, which has coincided with a drop in results for the rookie.

Imola started a run of four retirements in six races for Antonelli, although two of those were mechanical issues before he crashed into Max Verstappen in Austria. Isack Hadjar then destroyed the rear of the Mercedes in the Silverstone rain in the wet conditions. 

It means the only points Antonelli has scored since Miami came from the third place in Canada, but he remains seventh in the standings, with only the two McLarens, two Ferraris, Verstappen and team-mate George Russell ahead.

However, Wolff is determined to protect his protege wherever he can. 

"That is a really important question because Italy has been starved of drivers who are in race or championship-winning cars," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365, when asked how the team protect Antonelli.

"So, the enthusiasm is huge, and top media outlets writing headlines that Kimi is a legend aren't helpful, because in a country so passionate, lifting an 18-year-old to the status of legend after a podium is dangerous.

"It's dangerous in that respect that we need to increasingly shield him from everybody wanting something from him.

"It starts in a trivial environment with lots of fans wanting selfies, and it's great – better this than the other way around, and there have been many people who were involved in his racing career who expect something back.

"I believe that a young driver of 18, when there is too much pressure from every side, it can harm his development. 

"There's enough pressure being in the car, having George Russell as your teammate, driving a Mercedes car that can win races. 

"If everything around it starts to continue to put pressure on him, I think it's something we really need to protect him from, and that's what we are trying."